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Britain's former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott will step down as an MP at the next general election, he said yesterday.
Prescott, 69, confirmed he would step down as MP for Hull East, a position he has held since 1970.
He is expected to seek a seat in the House of Lords to continue his new role as head of Britain's parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe after he stands down as an MP.
Friends expect Prescott to take a seat in the Lords after the next election to enable him to carry on his new role as British representative on the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Prescott took over the role from fellow Labour MP Tony Lloyd after stepping down as Deputy Prime Minister.
He will need to seek a seat in the Lords in order to continue the job after stepping down as an MP.
Yesterday Richard Caborn, the former Sports Minister and a friend of Prescott said he expected him to continue his European work after the next election.
"He wants to carry on," he said. "If he wants to stay in the EU he will have to [take a seat in the Lords]."
"He is very, very keen. John did a huge amount in Europe up to 1979. He also played a very important role in the Kyoto climate change agreement and this gives him a platform to do some of that work."
Prescott told local constituency activists about his decision to stand down at party constituency over the weekend.
In a statement yesterday he said: "It has been a huge privilege to represent the people of Hull East over the last 37 years.
"I will continue to do that until the next General Election, whenever that might be."
Stephen Brady, chairman of the local Labour association, said: "John told us he would not be standing again. People paid tribute to his long service. It was an emotional event."
Brady said: "It's no secret that a number of people are in the frame for selection already.
"Now people will start putting their names forward formally."
Likely contenders to succeed Mr Prescott in Hull East include his son, David. Former Shipley MP and former minister Chris Leslie.
- INDEPENDENT, REUTERS
