More than 120 MPs have said publicly they were either standing down from parliament or not contesting their seat at the general election

Anyone now not seeing that something very big is coming is frankly beyond stupid as MP’s jump ship in record numbers to distance themselves from it.

List of the MP exodus t.co/UifuqWIQl8

— John Olooney (@OlooneyJohn) May 26, 2024

The UK will go to the polls in July after Rishi Sunak announced the date for the next general election – but scores of high-profile MPs will not be facing the electorate after deciding to stand down.

Housing secretary Michael Gove and former business secretary Andrea Leadsom became the latest Tory MPs to announce they would not contest the next election, as the number of Conservative MPs deciding to stand aside hit a new post-war record. In his letter to constituents, Mr Gove cited the “toll” of public office as he said it was time to let “a new generation lead” following a political career spanning nearly 20 years.

As of 25 May, more than 120 MPs have said publicly they were either standing down from parliament or not contesting their seat at the general election. Some 78 out of those were Conservative – a record number for the party. Veteran Tory MP John Redwood – notorious for once mumbling his way through the Welsh national anthem – also joined the list on Friday.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mps-standing-down-general-election-tories-b2551407.html

h/t Skullduggery