Glasgow MP to stand down on doctor's advice

Colleagues expressed surprise and sadness yesterday at the decision of the Glasgow East MP David Marshall to stand down from Westminster after nearly 30 years.

Labour sources said Mr Marshall, 67, was resigning as an MP on the advice of doctors. He is said to have been suffering from depression. A party spokesman dismissed any suggestion that Mr Marshall's decision was linked to the fact that he employed his wife on his Commons staff.

Senior colleagues said they were surprised at the timing of the announcement but added that Mr Marshall had been reluctant to stand at the last election and discussed standing down at either the European or Scottish Parliament. Mr Marshall has a majority of 13,507 in his constituency, which is one of the safest Labour seats in Scotland.

One MP said: "He had been off a number of times because he was unwell."

Another said: "He has been a good colleague and it is a big loss."

A third MP said: "He is not well, and he has made a very honourable decision to stand down." A Labour spokesman said yesterday: "Two doctors have given him the health advice that he needs to stand down as an MP. He would not have stood down as an MP if there was any way he could carry on."

Mr Marshall has been MP for Glasgow Shettleston and more recently East Glasgow, since 1979 and is a former chairman of the Commons Scottish Affairs Committee.