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A string of Labour MPs today announced they'll stand down at the next election as the party braces for a ballot box fight.

Veteran Brexiteer Kate Hoey led half a dozen MPs calling it a day - handily avoiding the threat of deselection by their local members.

Labour gave all MPs until today to confirm they'd stand again as they brace for a possible no confidence vote in the new PM - which could trigger a snap election.

Even if they do want to stand again, each Labour MP will face a reselection process in their local parties first.

And with rules relaxed to make it easier to deselect MPs, many will be vulnerable to being ousted over the summer.

Kate Hoey lost a no confidence vote of Vauxhall members a year ago - so many will say she chose to jump before she was pushed.

Also standing down for various reasons, not simply the reselection process, are Stephen Pound, Stephen Twigg, Jim Fitzpatrick, Kevin Barron and Ronnie Campbell.

They open up a bunfight for selection in what are mostly ultra-safe Labour seats. And more are expected to give their notices by the time the final list is in.

Here's a guide to the six MPs who are standing down, the seats they'll vacate - and they reasons they've given as to why.

Kate Hoey

(Image: Getty)

Labour's most ardent Brexiteer has been MP for Vauxhall since 1989 and angered local members by her anti-EU stance.

The 73-year-old, who famously campaigned alongside Nigel Farage in favour of leaving the EU, previously said she would not fight the 2020 election but when the 2017 snap poll was called she was persuaded to stay on.

Last year, however, she lost a no confidence motion tabled by her Vauxhall Constituency Labour Party.

Those who attended the meeting last July voted unanimously for a call to oust her in a damning motion that accused her of "ignoring" constituents' views, "collaborating" with Hard Brexit Tories and "colluding with Nigel Farage".

Ms Hoey is a long-term eurosceptic who voted against all the Maastricht and Lisbon treaties. But it is not just her stance on Brexit that meant she clashed with members.

Despite representing one of the most inner-city seats she is a former chair of the Countryside Alliance and backs fox hunting.

(Image: PA)

She attacked Labour's decision to ban handguns following the Dunblane massacre and supports grammar schools.

Pro-Corbyn campaign group Momentum said: "Kate Hoey is a no deal supporting, anti gay rights, fox hunting advocate who shared a platform with Nigel Farage.

"She couldn’t be more out of step with her Vauxhall constituents, and we look forward to backing a Corbyn supporting, socialist candidate in an open selection."

Ms Hoey was born in 1946 on a small farm in Co Antrim.

A talented athlete, she was Northern Ireland high jump champion before studying Economics at London Guildhall University.

In a letter announcing her retirement she said: "I will carry on until a general election serving with the energy, honesty and integrity that I have tried to bring to public service my whole life."

She leaves behind a stonking 20,250 majority in her seat - making Vauxhall ripe for an internal Labour battle over who replaces her.

Stephen Pound

The 71-year-old has been MP for Ealing North since Tony Blair's 1997 landslide and is known for his loud wit.

He had been a Shadow Northern Ireland minister for an astonishing nine years despite the turmoil and change that has swept through the Labour Party since then.

Born in Hammersmith, London, the grammar school-educated MP was a bus conductor and a hospital porter until his trade union sponsored him to study at the LSE.

He liked to boast that he resigned as an aide to the Blair government three times - to vote against foundation hospitals, Trident renewal and visa restrictions on Gurkhas.

He was also somewhat of an eccentric - shedding a tear when Big Ben bonged for its last time.

(Image: Internet Unknown)

Ealing North Labour tweeted: "The legend that is Stephen Pound MP will be standing down at the next election.

"Ealing Labour would like to thank him for the tremendous service given to our community, and many within the community will miss him greatly. Sending you the warmest wishes for the future Steve."

He leaves behind a whopping majority of 19,693 in Ealing North, making it an easy win for whoever is selected in his place.

Stephen Twigg

(Image: Reuters)

Liverpool West Derby MP Stephen Twigg has said he will not stand again at the next General Election.

The 52-year-old said in a letter to his constituents it had been an 'immense honour' to serve but added: "I have spent most of the past thirty years of my life as an elected representative.

"As I approach my mid-fifties I want t have the opportunity to take on something new."

Mr Twigg was first elected in 1997 when he unexpectedly defeated Tory veteran Michael Portillo.

The "Portillo moment" became symbolic of the Labour landslide.

Mr Twigg was Shadow Education Secretary under Ed Miliband and also served as a shadow minister in justice, foreign affairs and more. But he's not served since after Jeremy Corbyn took power.

He rebelled against the leadership over Brexit in January, abstaining in a vote in which Labour had pushed to delay Brexit to avoid No Deal.

He has a whopping 32,908 majority.

Jim Fitzpatrick

The 67-year-old MP for Poplar and Limehouse announced he was standing down by posting a photo of his reselection paperwork.

He tweeted: "Labour HQ asked if I’ll stand again, here is my official response.

"In the event of a snap election a volunteer parachutist may be needed if no time for full selection procedures to represent the great seat of Poplar and Limehouse!!"

Mr Fitzpatrick was elected in Tony Blair's 1997 landslide and served as a whip and later a minister in his government.

He remained a shadow minister under Ed Miliband before leaving the front bench in 2013.

He rebelled against his own party over Brexit, backing Theresa May's deal despite his borough backing Remain in 2016.

He said in March he did not support a delay or another referendum, and later said: "I’m no longer into gesture politics if I can at all avoid it."

He leaves behind a 27,712 majority.

Sir Kevin Barron

(Image: PA)

The Rother Valley MP, 72, is calling it a day after 36 years in a career that last saw him on the frontbench in 1998.

Since then he has been a stalwart of the Commons standards and privileges committees which police MPs' behaviour.

Like Jim Fitzpatrick, he too faced a backlash from some in the party after vowing to back Theresa May's Brexit deal.

He said: "It has been the greatest honour to represent the people of Rother Valley in Parliament for over thirty-six years and I sincerely thank all of my constituents for their support over the years.

"I have made the decision that this Parliamentary term will be my last."

He leaves behind a comparatively very small 3,882 majority over the Tories.

Ronnie Campbell

(Image: Flying Colours/Getty Images)

Outspoken Blyth Valley MP Ronnie Campbell, 75, revealed he will stand down at the next general election.

Mr Campbell, an MP since 1987, said “after serious consideration and a long time in politics I feel it is time to step aside".

"I feel that it’s time, at my age, that I was put out to grass," he added.

The veteran MP became a miner at the age of 15 and spent 29 years down the pits, where he was elected as a union representative in 1967 when working on the coalface at Bates Colliery.

Despite loyally sticking up for Jeremy Corbyn, he's also been one of Labour’s most prominent pro-Brexit campaigners, even if it meant defying the Labour leadership.

Mr Campbell survived serious cancer operations in the run-up to the last general election.

He leaves behind a majority of 7,915 in a two-way fight with the Tories.