Gordon Brown expected to announce retirement today

Gordon Brown is expected to announce his retirement as an MP today. Sources suggest that the former prime minister and chancellor will say that he is to step down at the next election.

LabourList first got wind of the rumours last weekend, and it seems that Brown will make the open secret formally known to his constituency later today.

After a difficult period as PM, followed by a heavy election defeat in 2010, Brown’s popularity seems to be slowly resurgent following his role in the Scottish referendum campaign, culminating in a well-received speech on the last day before polling. A poll last week found that he was considered a better chancellor of the exchequer than George Osborne.