Manchester MP Tony Lloyd to stand for police commissioner

Mr Lloyd has previously minister of state at the Foreign Office

An MP who has served almost three decades in Parliament has been chosen to stand as Labour's candidate in Greater Manchester's first police and crime commissioner (PCC) election.

Tony Lloyd, who was first elected in the Stretford and Urmston constituency in 1983, said it had been a "tremendous privilege" to serve as an MP.

Mr Lloyd will have to give up his role as an MP to stand for PCC in November.

He has been MP for Manchester Central since 1997.

His Parliamentary career has seen him hold a number of offices, including minister of state at the Foreign Office and leader of the UK delegation to the Council of Europe.

Yvette Cooper, Labour's shadow home secretary, said he was a "powerful advocate for Greater Manchester".

"We need people like Tony who will stand up and defend their communities and local policing," she said.

Mr Lloyd said he would "continue to work hard serving the communities I have spent nearly 30 years representing in Parliament until the time comes to stand down".

"If elected in November it will be a great honour to serve as Greater Manchester's first police and crime commissioner," he said.

Police and crime commissioners will be elected in 41 force areas across England and Wales on 15 November.

They replace police authorities made up of local councillors, and will have the power to hire and fire chief constables.