Hoon to step down as MP

FORMER British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, who tried to organise a vote by Labour MPs on Gordon Brown’s leadership last month, announced yesterday he was to step down as an MP at the next election.

Hoon and former health secretary Patricia Hewitt wrote to all the party’s MPs calling on them to hold a secret ballot on the future of Brown, saying it would help heal divisions.

But the move failed to gain any support and party officials said many Labour politicians were angered by the challenge.