Mr Cook has been an MP for 27 years

Veteran Labour MP Frank Cook who was deselected by his party two years ago, has announced he will stand as an Independent at the general election.

The 74-year-old Stockton North MP failed to win the backing of colleagues in a mandatory reselection process in 2008.

He has now quit, saying Labour is "no longer the party I joined in 1950".

Labour said Mr Cook had been automatically excluded as a party member.

Mr Cook, who has been an MP for 27 years, said: "It was their choice to replace me. They will probably sack me now.

"I joined the party in October 1950 and in all that time I have never had anyone say 'thanks Frank'.

"The Labour government has done an awful lot of good work and I am proud to have been part of that.

"But I have to say candidly that the Labour Party is no longer the party I joined in October 1950."

'Marginal constituency'

Alex Cunningham, a local councillor and public relations consultant, became the new election candidate after Mr Cook was deselected.

A Labour North spokesman said: "In Alex, local party members have chosen a hard-working local councillor and campaigner with a track record in delivery who will stand up for local people in Stockton North."

Lord Bates of Langbaurgh, Shadow Cabinet Office Minister and a former Teesside MP, said: "I think it's interesting that someone who's served on Teesside for 25 years is offering himself as a candidate without the restrictions of the ramshackle Labour Party."

Philip Latham, the Lib Dems' Stockton North candidate, said Mr Cook's decision meant that Stockton North was now a marginal constituency.

He said: "Labour's support has dramatically declined since 1997 and this is no longer a safe seat.

"This contest is now wide open and the Liberal Democrats are the only party offering real change based on the principle of fairness for the people of Stockton."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version