Breaking: three more MPs to step down

From @LabourList

UPDATE: The Evening Standard’s Paul Wugh has Tweeted that Tory MP Chris Fraser will also not contest the next election.

UPDATE: Julie Kirkbride, the Tory MP for Bromsgrove, will also step down.

Luton South Labour MP Margaret Moran has just announced that she will stand down at the next general election.

Ms Moran has released a statement that says:

“It is with great sadness that I have today informed the General Secretary of the Labour Party, following discussion with my family, that I intend to stand down as MP for Luton South at the next general election.

She continued:

“It has been a privilege to serve the residents of Luton. I will work hard for my constituents until I step down as an MP at the next general election but the understandable anger in the media and amongst the public over the issue of my Parliamentary expenses has had a bruising effect upon my friends, my family and my health and it is for this reason that I have decided to stand down.”

Ms Moran also said, somewhat disappointingly in the circumstances:

“It is very important that I make it absolutely clear that I have done nothing wrong or dishonest in relation to my claim for expenses and have at all times acted on advice from the House of Commons Fees Office in relation to my family home in Southampton.

Ms Moran has been the MP for Luton South since 1997.