Mortgage row Morley to quit as poll shows Labour trailing

Former minister Elliot Morley became the 13th MP to quit following the expenses revelations as a poll today showed his party with its lowest yet rating.

Mr Morley – who claimed £16,800 (€19,234) of UK taxpayers’ cash for a mortgage he had already paid off – announced last night he was stepping down at the next election after a meeting with party activists in his Scunthorpe constituency.

He said the decision followed a “traumatic” fortnight which had affected his family and his health. Mr Morley has repaid the cash, apologised and blamed the claims on “sloppy accounting”.

His resignation came as a Times/Populus survey of general election voting intentions showed Labour on 21% – it’s lowest ever level and well behind the Tories on 41%. The Liberal Democrats came in at 15%.

In terms of voting intentions for next week’s European elections, Labour polled 16%, behind Ukip on 19% and the Tories on 30%. The Liberal Democrats were in fourth place on 12%.

Tory leader David Cameron also piled more pressure on Mr Morley, saying any MPs who claimed taxpayer-funded cash for non-existent mortgages should be investigated by the police and “face the full force of the law” if found to have broken the law.

Speaking outside his constituency party office last night, the Labour MP said: “It is with regret that I have today informed the General Committee of the Scunthorpe Constituency Labour Party and the party general secretary that I do not wish to contest this seat at the next election.

“This is my choice after discussing this with my family and constituency party officers. The last two weeks have been traumatic for me and I have to think of my family and my health, both of which have suffered.

“Nor do I want in any way to undermine the strong position the Labour Party has in this constituency in what will be a crucial election.”