Laura Moffatt MP has announced she is standing down as the Labour Party candidate for Crawley at the next election.

The MP, who has the country's smallest majority of 37, says while it has been an honour and privilege to be Crawley's MP, she feels it's time for her party to seek a new candidate.

She said: "The work of an MP is challenging and exciting but it takes it's toll on family life which is why I have taken this difficult decision.

“I remain firmly committed to fighting for Labour to win the upcoming General Election and am confident that, as they take a second look at Labour and a long hard look at the Conservatives, the British public will choose a future fair for all and a new Labour government.”

Ms Moffat won the seat in the Labour landslide of 1997, and barely hung onto it in 2005, by just 37 votes.

She subsequently had the number 37 tattooed on her ankle with the red Labour rose.

A Labour Party spokesperson said, “The NEC will now be putting in place procedures to select a candidate for the general election.”