BARBARA Follett is set to step down as Stevenage MP at the next General Election, a national newspaper has reported. The Telegraph claims a Labour source has revealed the committee selecting candidates for the election – due by June next year at the lates

BARBARA Follett is set to step down as Stevenage MP at the next General Election, a national newspaper has reported.

The Telegraph claims a Labour source has revealed the committee selecting candidates for the election - due by June next year at the latest - has marked the seat as 'vacant'.

Mrs Follett won the constituency, which includes Knebworth, Codicote and Datchworth, in 1997. Her current majority is 3,139.

She was unavailable for comment today, and her constituency office was unable to confirm or deny the Telegraph's report.

Mrs Follett, who lives in Old Knebworth and is married to millionaire author Ken, was one of the big names shamed in the MPs' expenses scandal earlier this year.

She was forced to pay back nearly �33,000, the bulk of which was spent on private security patrols at her second home in London.

Speaking about the rumours, Stephen McPartland, Tory parliamentary candidate for the seat, said “If she is standing down I am pleased she has recognised that she has lost the support of her local people.”