Shadow defence minister Steve McCabe to stand down

Steve McCabe has been a Birmingham MP since 1997

Labour MP and shadow defence minister Steve McCabe has announced he will stand down ahead of the general election.

The MP for Birmingham Selly Oak said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that he had made the "difficult decision "in order to "make way for someone new".

He has served the constituencies of Hall Green and Selly Oak in Birmingham for 27 years.

"I am committed to Keir Starmer's Labour party and his vision for our country," he added.

The 68-year-old MP was first elected to the Birmingham Hall Green seat in 1997.

In the last general election Mr McCabe won his current seat with a majority of 12,414 (59.8%).

In the social media post on Tuesday evening Mr McCabe wrote that representing local communities had been the "honour of my life".

"The past 14 years have been hard. I've witnessed the damage done to so many of our public services and the impact of government decisions on the people I represent.

"I want to express my gratitude to all the party members and volunteers who have supported me over the years and the people who have voted for me to represent them at a total of seven general elections.

"It has been an honour," he added.

His role as chair of the Labour Friends of Israel prompted a protest from a Palestine supporters group calling for his deselection.

A complete list of candidates standing in the Birmingham Selly Oak constituency will be available on the BBC website after nominations close.