The stalwart MP has announced that she will be stepping down ahead of the general election, due to health reasons.
Ms Keeley made the announcement via her X (Twitter) account earlier this morning in which she said:
“It’s been an honour and a privilege to represent the people of Worsley and Eccles South in Parliament since 2010 and before that the people of Worsley from 2005 to 2010. I have now taken the very difficult decision that I will stand down as the candidate for my party in the General Election on July 4th.
“I have fought five General Elections since 2005. The 2019 General Election was a snap election called just months after I had been through surgery and radiotherapy for breast cancer.
“It was a difficult campaign, which was a battle for me personally, but I was delighted to be elected to serve the people of Worsley and Eccles South for another five years.
“Recently, I have had treatment in hospital in London after which I was meant to have a six-week recovery period.
“I was back at work in parliament within two weeks but then the General Election was called unexpectedly early. Thinking about the demands of the campaign, including supporting Labour colleagues in battleground seats, has made me realise that now is the time to step aside for a new Labour candidate for the constituency.
“It has been an honour to serve as a Government Whip and Deputy Leader of the House of Commons in the Labour Government before 2010, as the Shadow Cabinet Minister for Mental Health and Social Care and most recently as Shadow Minister for Music and Tourism and Shadow Minister for the Arts and Civil Society.
“I have worked to raise issues to improve the quality of life for carers and to highlight the scandal of inappropriate institutional care for autistic people and people with learning difficulties.
“In my Shadow Culture roles I have battled to support our world-class BBC orchestras, to save BBC Singers from being axed and on the pressing need to improve music education, which has suffered so much under Conservative Governments.
“On all these issues, I believe that a Labour Government with Keir Starmer as Prime Minister would do a great deal to bring about change to improve life for the people and to act on issues I care about and have campaigned on. I will continue to work for the election of the Labour Government this country needs.
“Since 2005 I have had the privilege, to meet, help and support thousands of constituents, firstly in Worsley and since 2010 in Worsley and Eccles South. I want to thank all the constituents whose faith in me has enabled me to be their MP and all the wonderful staff who have supported my work.”
