Labour MP Rosie Cooper to stand down and trigger byelection

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The Labour MP Rosie Cooper is expected to stand down and trigger a byelection in her West Lancashire constituency, after taking on a new role with the NHS.

Cooper said it had been “an incredible honour and privilege” to have served in the Commons since 2005, and admitted her departure would “come as a surprise to many people” given she had recently been reselected to stand at the next general election.

While her statement did not confirm whether she had yet resigned from parliament, the Guardian has been told she is expected to do so, meaning a byelection would be called in the north-west England seat that she held with an 8,000 majority in 2019.

Cooper said she was “very sad that my time in West Lancashire has come to an end” and added that she would become chair of Mersey Care NHS foundation trust.

More details soon …