WAVERTREE MP Jane Kennedy will be standing down at next year’s General Election.

In an interview she outlined the reasons behind her decision to stand down after 17 years representing her Liverpool constituency

The Labour MP admitted to feeling “drained” and “tired” and said the time was right for her to move on to a new challenge, although she does not have another job lined up.

She said:

The “unrelenting” pressures of 10 years as a Government minister had taken its toll on her family life.

Changes to be introduced to parliament after the expenses scandal, which include not being able to employ her partner Peter Dowling, were a factor.Š

And, that she had tired of “highly personal attacks” from Liberal Democrats.

Ms Kennedy’s seat is the top Lib-Dem target in the North West and it is expected the fight will be a bitter contest.

The 51-year-old mother-of-two said she had been thinking about quitting as an MP since resigning as a health minister over Sir David Henshaw’s appointment as chairman of the North West Strategic Health Authority.

The MP, who has held six ministerial posts including one of the top positions at the treasury, said she had nothing but “affection and respect” for the Labour party.

But she said her opinion of Gordon Brown had not changed since she resigned as an environment minister in the summer over his leadership style.

At the time she criticised Mr Brown’s and compared him with a “Mafia boss” who “might not pull the trigger, but he knows who’s getting bumped off”.

But she insisted his leadership had not been a factor in her decision to quit.

Today Liverpool Labour leader Joe Anderson said: “Jane Kennedy has served Wavertree, Liverpool, and the country with distinction.”

He said she had always had a strong work ethic and would be missed.

Ms Kennedy said: “I want to do something else, I don’t want to go into retirement.”

“I have been thinking about it for a long time, and when I say a long time I mean since coming out of the Department of Health.”