Mr Kemp, who represents Houghton and Washington East, said after nearly 30 years in full-time politics he had decided it was time to make his decision and give the party enough notice to choose a good candidate to replace him.

He is the third Sunderland MP to announce he will not be running when Prime Minister Gordon Brown calls the next general election. Colleagues Bill Etherington and Chris Mullin have already told the Labour party they are retiring from the House of Commons.

Mr Kemp, who yesterday opened Wearside Women in Need's new haven for families subjected to domestic violence, has served Houghton and Washington East since 1997.

He said: "It is, and has been, a tremendous privilege to represent the people of Houghton and Washington East – a privilege made even more special as I was born and grew up in the constituency."

Mr Kemp thanked his local party and the people of Houghton and Washington East for electing and supporting him.

He also took the opportunity to say he felt Labour had a proud record of achievement both in the constituency and nationally and that he believed Gordon Brown was the man with the determination and skills to lead Britain.

Mr Kemp served as a full-time Labour organiser before running in the 1997 general election.

He had already successfully organised local election campaigns when he was a teenager, and after becoming a full-time Labour activist in 1980, he was appointed as the youngest ever regional organiser in the West Midlands.

He was responsible for two of the biggest election swings in Labour Party history.

His success saw him posted to party HQ in Millbank Tower, London, and became Labour's number two member of staff as general election co-ordinator.

He held the post until 1996, when he was selected as the Labour candidate for Houghton and Washington East.

Mr Kemp served as a Goverment whip from 2001-2005. He has also championed a number of causes in Sunderland, including the ongoing battle to save the world's only listed pigeon cree in Ryhope.

Mr Kemp's parliamentary agent, Joe Lawson – a former city councillor – praised the work of Mr Kemp and said while disappointed, the local party respected his decision.