Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader and the MP for West Bromwich East, has announced his decision to “stand down from national politics”.

After 35 years of working in politics full-time, Watson will step down both as a Labour MP and as deputy leader at the upcoming election on December 12th.

He has promised to campaign in favour of a Labour government in the run-up to polling day next month on Dec 2th, and “won’t be leaving politics altogether” after the election.

But he also vowed to continue campaigning on a number of issues including “gambling reform, music and arts, stopping press intrusion, obesity and public health and of course horticulture and cycling”.

Responding to the news, Corbyn shared his own letter in full and tweeted: “Thank you Tom Watson for your service to our party and your constituents.

“I know you’ll continue to take on the vested interests of the Murdoch empire, big sugar companies and the gambling industry. This is not the end of our work together.”

Labour’s national executive committee will soon initiate the selection process to find a new candidate for West Bromwich East, where Watson has a majority of 7,713 votes.…