Death threat MP is to stand down

The Labour MP said he had been affected by the death threats

A Leicestershire MP who received death threats has announced he will stand down at the next general election.

North West Leicestershire MP David Taylor, 61, said an "excessive workload" was behind the reason for his decision to stand down.

But the Labour MP said he had faced an increase of abuse from his constituents and in some cases threats to his life.

He said that had made him call into question whether or not to continue but added it was not the main reason.

"Those particular cases which have involved aggression and abuse and so on, they do dismay you, without a doubt.

"The vast bulk of people you come into contact with are good, decent people."

Mr Taylor was first selected as a parliamentary candidate for North West Leicestershire in 1989 and first elected as MP with a majority of 13,219. He was re-elected in 2001 with a majority of 8,157 and in 2005 with one of 4,477.

In a statement, he said: "It is an enormous privilege to have been selected by my party as its parliamentary candidate for my life-time home area on five occasions and to have been able to represent it at Westminster since 1997."