A woman who was elected a Labour MP in 1997 has announced she is stepping down at the next general election.
Calder Valley MP Chris McCafferty, pictured, was one of 64 women Labour MPs to get elected in the landslide victory after beating long-serving Conservative MP Sir Donald Thompson.
She held the seat in 2001 and 2005, although her majority dropped to just 1,367 - making it the most marginal seat in West Yorkshire.
And now the 61-year-old MP has revealed she is stepping down as she will have reached retirement age the next time the country takes to the polls.
Although a General Election might be three years away, Mrs McCafferty said she wanted to be open with her constituents and local Labour party to allow the next Labour candidate to stand.
She said: "I have no intention of reducing my work for the people of Calder Valley. I will continue to work as hard over the next three years as I have since 1997, speaking up for local people and helping them with their problems and concerns."
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