DEPUTY Labor leader Rob Hulls is to retire from politics today.

Mr Hulls, who was deputy premier under John Brumby, will quit Parliament, causing a by-election in his safe seat of Niddrie, the Herald Sun reports.

It will also create a vacancy for the deputy leadership of the party.

His decision comes little more than a year since Labor lost government.

Mr Hulls told the Moonee Valley Leader said a health scare last year had prompted the decision.

"I've had a great journey, but six months ago I had a very serious health scare and since then I’ve been reassessing my life."

"I made the decision I wouldn't run in the election in 2014.

"The best thing I can do for the party and also for the people of Niddrie is to leave the parliament now having made the decision."

Read more at the Herald Sun.