Bolton West MP Ruth Kelly’s decision to quit frontline politics is a blow for Bolton, according to the town’s two other Labour MPs.

Brian Iddon and David Crausby believe Ms Kelly’s high-flying political career has raised the profile of the town.

But both said they understood their Bolton-west colleague’s decision to leave the cabinet. Bolton South-east MP Dr Iddon said: “It was advantageous to Bolton having a Secretary of State as an MP.

“It has helped the borough. But it is also demanding having four children.

“Pursuing a Parliamentary career and balancing that with constituency work can be difficult.

“I think there might be other reasons for the decision such as her having to fight her marginal seat and also the Embryology Bill might have been playing on her mind, too.”

Mr Crausby said that he was expecting the announcement but was surprised by its timing. He said: “I do think the information has been leaked.

“I was not expecting the decision to be announced when it was. Ruth is very supportive of Gordon Brown and would not have wanted to damage the party.

“I think it was an accident the news came out when it did.”

He added: “The decision is her own to make and she is entitled to step down and put her family first.

“But it will be a loss for Bolton, it was good for the town to have a member of cabinet.”