George Foulkes is a former minister

The member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley entered parliament in 1979.

Mr Foulkes, who turns 62 next week, said: "I want to retire from parliament at a time when I am still young enough to do other things."

During his Westminster career he was a junior minister in the Department for International Development and a minister in the Scottish Office.

Mr Foulkes announced his decision on Sunday to the members of what would have been his new constituency, Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock.

It is being created under the boundary changes which will reduce the number of Scottish MPs at Westminster from 72 to 59.

Overseas development

Mr Foulkes has represented Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley since 1983, after four years as MP for South Ayrshire.

During opposition he served as a spokesman on foreign affairs, defence and overseas development.

He was also the chairman of the Labour campaign for a Scottish assembly between 1982 and 1997.

After the 1997 election, Mr Foulkes served as deputy to Clare Short in the Department for International Development for four years.

He was made Minster of State for Scotland in 2001, before being axed in a cabinet reshuffle in May 2002.

Loyal supporter

Stirling MP Anne McGuire replaced him as then Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell's deputy at the Scotland Office.

Mr Foulkes is seen as a loyal supporter of Prime Minister Tony Blair.

He said he would continue to be politically active after his retirement from Westminster.

He is a member of the GMB union, the Co-Operative Party and the Fabian Society, and a former chairman of Scottish left wing think-tank the John Wheatley Centre.