Labour MP to stand down next election

LONDON (Reuters) - A Labour member of parliament on Friday joined the growing ranks of politicians who said they would not be standing in the next election.

Greg Pope, who has represented the Hyndburn constituency in East Lancashire since 1992, said on his website that "changes in family circumstances" had led to the decision to stand down.

"This is not a sudden decision but one I have contemplated with my family for a considerable period of time," Pope said.

Several members of parliament from both Labour and the Conservative Party have been forced to resign over criticism of their expense claims in a scandal that has engulfed the House of Commons.

The Daily Telegraph obtained records of lawmakers' expenses and has been embarrassing some of them with reports on how they used their generous allowances to claim for items such as repairing tennis courts or cleaning a moat.

There have been no allegations against Pope, who said he did not "want to grow old in the House of Commons."

The controversy has also led parliamentary speaker Michael Martin to resign, the first speaker to be ousted in 300 years, over his handling of the affair.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who trails the Conservatives in opinion polls, must call a general election by June next year.

(Reporting by Frank Prenesti)