Former Cabinet minister Peter Mandelson formally stepped down as a Member of Parliament today to take up his new position as European Commissioner.
Mr Mandelson's departure from Westminster will trigger a by-election in his Hartlepool constituency.
Although normally a safe seat for Labour, Hartlepool has seen vigorous campaigning by opposition parties over the summer, with the Liberal Democrats particularly hopeful of making a significant dent in Mr Mandelson's 14,571 majority.
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