A by-election can be held this autumn in a powerful Labour seat after Rosie Cooper introduced she was stepping down as an MP after 17 years.
The Labour MP, who has represented West Lancashire since 2005, mentioned the announcement “will come as a surprise to many people” as she had not too long ago secured reselection to face within the seat for the subsequent election.
Ms Cooper, 72, mentioned she is stepping down as a result of she has accepted a brand new function as chair of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Labour confirmed to Sky News {that a} by-election for her seat will happen “this autumn”.
Ms Cooper mentioned: “It has been an unimaginable honour and privilege to have served the individuals of West Lancashire for the final 17 years. I’ve liked each minute, even in essentially the most tough occasions.
“I appreciate this will come as a surprise to many people having recently secured reselection to stand as West Lancashire’s Labour Party candidate for the next general election. This was prior to the recruitment process for the Mersey Care position.”
She mentioned she had taken a “considerable period of soul searching and reflection” earlier than making use of for the function.
“The events I have faced over the last few years are well documented and undoubtedly have taken their toll,” Ms Cooper added.
The MP was the sufferer of a plot to kill her by an alleged member of the banned neo-Nazi group National Action – the identical group the person who killed Labour MP Jo Cox was a member of.
In 2018, Jack Renshaw, then 23, of Skelmersdale, Lancashire, admitted to plotting to kill Ms Cooper for “white jihad” and for making threats to kill a police officer.
Source: information.sky.com”