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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sarwar plans to stand down as MP | Sarwar plans to stand down as MP |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Mohammed Sarwar, the 54-year-old Labour MP for Glasgow Central, has announced he is to stand down from Westminster at the next General Election. | Mohammed Sarwar, the 54-year-old Labour MP for Glasgow Central, has announced he is to stand down from Westminster at the next General Election. |
| The father-of-four was elected as the MP for the former Govan seat in 1997 and was Britain's first Muslim MP. | |
| Mr Sarwar told BBC Scotland he felt it was time to move on and focus more of his energies on his charity work. | Mr Sarwar told BBC Scotland he felt it was time to move on and focus more of his energies on his charity work. |
| He said it had made him very proud to represent his constituents and said they had shown him great support. | He said it had made him very proud to represent his constituents and said they had shown him great support. |
| Mr Sarwar, a retail millionaire, also promised to keep working to improve his local community even when he is no longer serving as the area's MP. | Mr Sarwar, a retail millionaire, also promised to keep working to improve his local community even when he is no longer serving as the area's MP. |
| He told the Daily Record: "I think it's time to move on. I'll be an MP for the next two years but I am not seeking re-selection to stand again." | He told the Daily Record: "I think it's time to move on. I'll be an MP for the next two years but I am not seeking re-selection to stand again." |
| Controversy | Controversy |
| Mr Sarwar said that Gordon Brown would be an "excellent" Prime Minister. | Mr Sarwar said that Gordon Brown would be an "excellent" Prime Minister. |
| The MP is planning to concentrate on charity projects in Scotland and his native Pakistan. | The MP is planning to concentrate on charity projects in Scotland and his native Pakistan. |
| His political career has, however, been dogged by controversy since he won a bitter selection battle against Mike Watson, the former MP for Glasgow Central. | His political career has, however, been dogged by controversy since he won a bitter selection battle against Mike Watson, the former MP for Glasgow Central. |
| Soon after his election, he was suspended from the parliamentary Labour party over allegations of bribing political opponents, and stood trial for fraud. | Soon after his election, he was suspended from the parliamentary Labour party over allegations of bribing political opponents, and stood trial for fraud. |
| He was acquitted in March 1999 and restored to the Parliamentary Labour Party. | He was acquitted in March 1999 and restored to the Parliamentary Labour Party. |
| He has concentrated on constituency issues, and has become one of the leading Commons advocates of the Scottish ship-building industry. | He has concentrated on constituency issues, and has become one of the leading Commons advocates of the Scottish ship-building industry. |