McGovern has been MP for Dundee West since 2005 when Ernie Ross stood down due to ill health.
I realised when I started to write this that, despite his being an MP for 10 years in my neighbouring constituency, I knew nothing about him and had only memories of one story about him.
That was the occasion when he cost the taxpayer £27,000 fighting for a £23.90 expenses claim.
It turns out from his Wikipedia page that there isn't much more to know, so I feel a little vindicated. But credit to him for standing up for his beliefs when the Labour Party wanted to privatise the Post office.
I remember too, seeing a Youtube video of him introducing Jim Murphy in Dundee on his 100 days of Irn Bru tour. McGovern starting his intro with the word "Comrades", which made me laugh a bit, and I imagine made Jim Murphy squirm!
Mr McGovern gives on-going ill-heath as his reason for standing down at this stage, and Munguin's Republic wishes him a speedy recovery from what ails him and hopes that the relaxation of retirement will aid his recovery process.
It may be well for politicians of all stripes to remember at this point that, as people get older, they become less able to cope with the demands of full time work. Parties seem determined to increase and increase the age at which one can retire, and Labour has just confirmed that, in government, it would continue to follow this path.
This policy, of course, is based on the ever increasing life expectancy of the UK population at large, but takes little account of people's reducing capacity for the famed "hard work" so beloved of our politicians, as years pass by.
We may all live to be 100 now, but it doesn't mean that we continue to be fit for work, nor does it mean that employers are happy to accommodate our older people.
It might be a good idea for politicians to look at how life can be made easier for those who are simply not well enough to go on working, but who are not in the fortunate financial situation to be able to stop work.
In the meantime I understand that Labour has only a few days to find a candidate for the seat before the time for candidate nominations close.
Good luck with that.
