News comes today that Bruce George, MP for Walsall South since 1974, will not seek re-election at the general election.
In a statement that hardly gives whoever is chosen as his successor as Labour candidate a boost, he tells his local paper that he wanted to "quit while I'm ahead".
The Conservative candidate for the seat, Richard Hunt (pictured), has been in place since August last year. He requires a swing of 10.4% to overturn the notional Labour majority of 7,910.
Jonathan Isaby