POLITICS

Gordon Brown’s office has insisted that the former prime minister “will remain” an MP amid renewed speculation that he could quit next year.

Reports yesterday suggested that the former Labour chief had decided not to stand for re-election as member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath.

Since leaving No 10 after losing the 2010 general election, Mr Brown has combined his job as a constituencyMPwith acting as UNspecial envoy for global education.

Mr Brown’s office did not deny yesterday that he had decided not to be the candidate at next year’s general election.

However , the spokesman made it c lear that he remained an MP and had “no plans to make any announcement to the contrary”.

He added that he was playing an “active role” campaigning for Scotland to vote No in September’s independence referendum. “So many people have tried to write this story on so many occasions with no facts,” he said.

“Mr Brown has just announced he is playing an active role in the referendum for United with Labour. He is giving a major speech next Tuesday and will be delivering a series of lectures on Scotland’s future. “He is, and will remain, member of parliament for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath and he has no plans to make any ann o u n c ement to t h e c o ntrary.”

Gordon Brown