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Sir Alex Ferguson will not be swapping the red benches of Man Utd for the red benches of Parliament after snubbing a peerage.

The retired 71-year-old Red Devils hero has decided to turn down the chance of becoming a lord after vowing to put his wife Cathy first.

There was a clamour for Labour-supporting Sir Alex to be given the honour when he quit as manager of Manchester United in May.

The party’s new peers are due to be announced today, along with new Tory and Lib Dems lords.

Labour insiders said when Sir Alex left Old Trafford there was a “distinct possibility” he would also be on their list for the honour.

Leader Ed Miliband fuelled speculation with lavish praise, calling him “the most successful football manager the world has ever seen”.

The former shipyard worker was never formally offered a peerage but friends reckon he was sounded out about the possibility – and responded that he did not want it.

One said: “He’s a Labour supporter and will always try to help the party. But he made it clear he’s not interested. It’s not for him.”

Sir Alex’s decision came to light when he announced he was leaving the dugout after 26 years at United to focus on his family following the death of his sister-in-law.

He told fans at his final game: “Things changed when Cathy’s sister died. She’s isolated a lot now and I owe her a lot of my own time.

“For 47 years she’s been the leader of the family and sacrificed for me. She’s lost her best friend in Bridget, so I owe her time. It’s important.”

Sir Alex is not the first person to turn down such an honour. Mirror columnist Fiona Phillips was offered a peerage and playwright JB Priestley formally rejected his.

The Birds and Psycho director Alfred Hitchcock turned down a CBE in 1962, while Charlie and the Chocolate Factory author Roald Dahl said no to an OBE in 1986.