Record variety of Tory MPs quitting at General Election as exodus overtakes 1997
A record number of Tory MPs will quit at the General Election, overtaking the exodus before Tony Blair’s 1997 landslide.
Some 77 Conservatives have so far announced they won’t try to get re-elected, including Tory big beasts Theresa May, Sajid Javid, Ben Wallace and Matt Hancock. Rishi Sunak’s sudden announcement of a July 4 election has prompted more MPs to throw in the towel – with likely more to come.
The number of quitting Tories has now surpassed the previous record of 72 who quit ahead of Labour’s victory in 1997. Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a summer election surprised many in Westminster, who had been expecting an autumn poll.
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The Conservatives are trailing 20 points behind Labour in the polls, with many nervy Tories worried about losing their jobs. A number of senior Cabinet Ministers are in trouble, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s seat at risk to the Liberal Democrats and Defence Secretary Grant Shapps vulnerable to Labour.
Craig Mackinlay was among the latest MPs to announce they were standing down. The “bionic MP”, who had both his hands and feet amputated after he got sepsis, was welcomed to Parliament on Wednesday with an emotional standing ovation in the Commons. But he said that after “36 hours of intense soul searching” following the PM’s surprise election announcement, he had decided to quit.
It came after outgoing Tories Mr Hancock and Bob Stewart both had the party whip restored and former minister Sir John Redwood announced he is stepping down. Former Attorney General Sir Michael Ellis also said he was standing down, as well as former Business and Housing Secretary Greg Clark.
On Thursday, the first day of the election campaign, transport minister Huw Merriman and work and pensions minister Jo Churchill announced they are not seeking re-election. Dame Eleanor Laing, the Deputy Commons Speaker who was elected as an MP but relinquished party affiliation to take up her role, and former minister Sir Michael Ellis are also said they are stepping down.
The Mirror’s full list of Tory MPs who are standing down and is updated regularly here.
