List of MPs Retiring at General Election Grows List of MPs Retiring at General Election Grows as Michael Gove and John Redwood Announce Departure
More than 120 MPs have decided to quit ahead of the next general election. Among those who have announced their resignation are Angela Leadsom and Theresa May. SIGN UP: We would like to be emailed about offers, events, and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy.List of MPs Retiring at General Election Grows List of MPs Retiring at General Election Grows as Michael Gove and John Redwood Announce Departure
The UK will go to the polls in July. Rishi Sunak announced the date for the next general election. However, not all high-profile MPs will be facing the electorate. Some have decided to stand down.
Housing secretary Michael Gove and former business secretary Andrea Leadsom have become the latest Tory MPs to announce they would not contest the next election, as the number of Conservative MPs deciding to stand aside hits a new post-war record.In his letter to constituents, Mr. Gove mentioned the toll of public office. He expressed the need for a new generation to lead, having served in politics for nearly 20 years.
As of May 25, over 120 MPs have announced they will be stepping down from parliament. Additionally, over 120 MPs have declared they will not be running for re-election in the general election. Some 78 out of those were Conservative – a record number for the party. Veteran Tory MP John Redwood was among those who joined the list on Friday. Notorious for mumbling his way through the Welsh national anthem, John Redwood was included in the list.
Former Prime Minister Theresa May
Former Prime Minister Theresa May announced in March she would not stand again. In her farewell speech to parliament, the former PM urged remaining MPs to “remember the importance of our democracy”, to “be a voice for the voiceless” and warned that “their job here is not to advance themselves but to serve the people who elected them”.
Nadhim Zahawi, the former chancellor, education secretary and Conservative Party chairman, stood down in May, saying the time is right for a “new, energetic Conservative to take over”.Alok Sharma, the former Cop26 president, announced he would stand down at the next general election. It would have been an honor for him to have served as an MP in his life.
Mr Sharma, who represents Reading West, previously held the business secretary brief.
Sajid Javid, the former chancellor, Dominic Raab, the ex-deputy prime minister, and Ben Wallace – the former defence secretary – all of whom were at one time touted as potential future Tory leaders – were among the other big-name Conservatives who have called it a day as their party struggles in the polls.
Mr. Sharma and Mr. Raab would face bullying allegations
If they had stayed in their positions, Mr. Sharma and Mr. Raab would have faced bullying allegations. They would have had to defend smaller majorities in the next election.
Most MPs are leaving politics and are predominantly Conservatives. This is unsurprising, as the Conservatives are the largest party, winning the most seats in the election.
According to the Institute for Government, nearly 150 MPs stood down in the 2010 election. This was mainly due to the Labour Party, which had been in power since 1997.
Some MPs announced they were standing down in response to the expenses scandal of the same year.
Harriet Harman, a former Labour leader, is among the high-profile Labour MPs standing down. The same goes for Margaret Beckett, a former foreign secretary, and Ben Bradshaw, a former culture secretary.
The Conservative Party is on course for a heavy defeat at the next election, according to most opinion polls.List of MPs Retiring at General Election Grows
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