FOR more than two decades, Hugh Bayley has been a hard-working, conscientious MP. He was briefly, during the Blair years, a junior Minister, and he's also served as President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

For much of his 22 years as a York MP, however, he has been a backbencher: and no worse a politician for it.

His NATO role saw him spending much time abroad. But he has also consistently spoken up for York in the House of Commons, and has been an effective constituency MP.

He would have been a shoo-in at the next election. But he will be 63 by then, and has decided the time has come to say goodbye to politics and to 'put his family first'.

The question many will now be asking is: who will take his place? We'll have to wait and see.

One thing is for sure, however. With next year's general election looking hugely uncertain, Labour will need to field a strong candidate if they are to be sure of holding onto a seat Mr Bayley has represented so well for so long.