Arts minister Estelle Morris has said she intends to step down at the next election.

Morris resigned as education secretary two years ago after media criticism of her handling of a string of problems facing her department. 

She was brought back into the government as arts minister by Tony Blair but has now decided to leave the Commons.

Morris, who has been MP for Birmingham Yardley since 1992, said: "It has been a huge privilege to represent Yardley in parliament and I owe a debt of gratitude to my constituents and my party members for giving me that opportunity.

"I am tremendously proud of the achievements of the Labour government and the contribution I have been able to make in two departments of state.

"I have not lost my enthusiasm or energy for politics but I want a different focus and a new challenge outside the House of Commons."

When she stepped down as education secretary she told Blair that she did not feel her strength was in "strategic management of a huge department", adding that she was "not good at dealing with the modern media."

Morris has indicated that she would be happy to remain as arts minister until the election but said it was a decision for the prime minister.

Some pundits have predicted that Labour could be vulnerable in Yardley to a swing against the government in next year's likely election with a majority of just 2,576 over the Liberal Democrats.