Worsley and Eccles South MP Barbara Keeley steps down ahead of general election

The Labour MP for Worsley and Eccles South has announced she is stepping down ahead of the general election.

Barbara Keeley confirmed she is leaving her role for health reasons in a statement posted to social media on Monday (May 27).

Ms Keeley revealed she recently underwent treatment at a hospital in London and was given a six-week recovery period.

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She previously worked the “difficult” general election in 2019 despite battling breast cancer just months earlier.

With Rishi Sunak unexpectedly announcing the July 4 general election early, Ms Keeley has now made the decision to step down from her role for her health.

In a statement posted to X, she said: "It's been an honour and a privilege to represent the people of Worsley and Eccles South in Parliament since 2010 and before that the people of Worsley from 2005 to 2010. I have now taken the very difficult decision that I will stand down as the candidate for my party in the General Election on July 4th.

"I have fought five General Elections since 2005. The 2019 General Election was a snap election called just months after I had been through surgery and radiotherapy for breast cancer.

"It was a difficult campaign, which was a battle for me personally, but I was delighted to be elected to serve the people of Worsley and Eccles South for another five years.

"Recently, I have had treatment in hospital in London after which I was meant to have a six-week recovery period.

"I was back at work in parliament within two weeks but then the General Election was called unexpectedly early. Thinking about the demands of the campaign, including supporting Labour colleagues in battleground