Theresa May has announced that she will not stand in the upcoming general election, making her the 60th Conservative MP to announce their departure from Parliament. This is the highest number of Conservative MPs stepping down since 1997, indicating a significant exodus from the party.
Polls suggest that Labour is poised for a substantial victory in the upcoming election, similar to the landslide victory they experienced 27 years ago. Many Conservatives are concerned about the prospect of a humiliating defeat.
Mrs. May will join several other former Cabinet ministers in stepping down, including Sajid Javid, Kwasi Kwarteng, Ben Wallace, Chris Grayling, and Sir Alok Sharma.
Theresa May (Credits: Sky News)
After announcing her decision to leave Parliament after 27 years as an MP, Mrs. May was pictured visiting a school in her Maidenhead constituency.
She joined pupils and staff at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School to watch a football session as part of the FA’s ‘Let Girls Play’ initiative, which aims to encourage more girls to participate in football.
Mrs. May stated that she is stepping down to focus on campaigning against modern slavery and human trafficking, calling it a “difficult decision.” She led the Conservatives through a tumultuous period of Brexit infighting following the EU referendum.
Having won an 18,000-vote majority in Maidenhead in 2019, Mrs. May was expected to retain her seat even if the general election proved challenging for the Tories.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak praised Mrs. May’s public service, although Labour criticized her departure as evidence of a lack of confidence in his leadership.
Known for her distinctive style, including her fondness for bold kitten heels, Mrs. May has been a prominent figure in the Conservative Party since the early 2000s. She famously challenged the party to change its image as the ‘nasty party’ during the 2002 conference.
As one of the longest-serving Home Secretaries in modern political history during David Cameron’s premiership, Mrs. May has played a significant role in shaping British politics.
