Llew Smith

Born 16 April 1944 Was a labourer and computer operator MEP for South Wales East 1984-94 MP for Blaenau Gwent since 1992 Returned a 19,313 majority in the 2001 General Election

He told party members that he had made an early announcement to give the constituency an opportunity to choose a new candidate for the safe Labour seat.

Mr Smith told BBC Wales: "I'm not standing down from politics, I'm not standing down from the Labour movement and as people will come to realise very quickly, it will give me more time to be involved in politics.

"I'll be doing the same thing, but instead of doing it in Parliament, I'll be doing it in the way which I did for 25 years before I became an MP.

"It's the same message but a different platform."

In the 2001 General Election, Mr Smith returned a 19,313 majority in the valleys seat, which was once held by Michael Foot and Nye Bevan.

He was elected to the Commons in 1992, having served eight years as an MEP.

Opponent

The outspoken MP strongly opposed devolution for Wales and campaigned for a 'No' vote in the run-up to the 1997 referendum.

It's the same message but a different platform Llew Smith

He continued to campaign against further powers for the Welsh Assembly after the institution was set up.

He often criticised the level of investment being ploughed into Cardiff Bay, claiming it detracted from more deprived areas such as his own Blaenau Gwent seat.

Deprived

The former mining and steelworking constituency, which contains Ebbw Vale and Tredegar, is one of the most deprived in Wales.

Recently, Mr Smith criticised Labour for its policy over all-women candidate lists and it has been suggested that he stepped down to allow the local party to choose its own candidate rather than have one imposed.

Mr Smith said: "I believe that the decision on my successor should be taken by the real experts and those experts are the people who live in Blaenau Gwent."

Campaigning

A campaigning MP, Mr Smith also opposed the private finance initiative and nuclear weapons.

He added: "I'm not old Labour or new Labour - I'm just Labour, I'm a socialist.

"The ideas which I stood for when I was elected I've actually kept to. I've stayed the course."