Theresa May declares she’s quitting as MP as she shares verdict on Tory possibilities

Theresa May has introduced she’s going to step down as an MP as hypothesis grows an election may very well be known as inside days.

The former Prime Minister mentioned she is not going to be re-standing in Maidenhead, which she has represented for 27 years. In an announcement to her native newspaper, Mrs May mentioned she had taken the “difficult decision” to go away the Commons on the election.

Around 60 Conservative MPs have now introduced they’re selecting to give up because the occasion faces the prospect of huge losses. But Mrs May, 67, advised the Maidenhead Advertiser she nonetheless believed Mr Sunak might cling on as PM.

“As I pass the baton on I will be working with my successor to secure a Conservative victory in Maidenhead,” she mentioned. “I remain committed to supporting Rishi Sunak and the Government and believe that the Conservatives can win the election.”

Mrs May served as Home Secretary in David Cameron’s Government earlier than turning into Prime Minister when he left No10 within the wake of the Brexit vote. But she misplaced the occasion’s majority within the 2017 election and returned to the backbenches in 2019.

Mrs May final 12 months had introduced she meant to face once more because the Tory candidate in Maidenhead. It is without doubt one of the occasion’s most secure seats with the previous PM successful with a majority of 18,846 votes on the final election.

But in her assertion right now she mentioned: “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve everyone in the Maidenhead constituency as the Member of Parliament for the last 27 years. Being an MP is about service to one’s constituents and I have always done my best to ensure that I respond to the needs of local people and the local area.

“Since stepping down as Prime Minister I have enjoyed being a backbencher again and having more time to work for my constituents and champion causes close to my heart including most recently launching a Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. These causes have been taking an increasing amount of my time.

“Because of this, after much careful thought and consideration, I have realised that, looking ahead, I would no longer be able to do my job as an MP in the way I believe is right and my constituents deserve.I have therefore taken the difficult decision to stand down at the next General Election.”