In a significant development affecting Rishi Sunak’s administration, James Heappey has announced his decision to step down from his role at the end of the month, citing family reasons.
Heappey’s departure adds to a growing list of Conservative MPs relinquishing their seats. The list currently counts 60 members, including prominent figures like former Prime Minister Theresa May and former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
James Heappey (Credits: The Times)
A veteran who served extensively in conflict zones like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Northern Ireland during his army tenure, Heappey has reportedly voiced frustrations over defense spending levels to his colleagues. He is scheduled to make his final appearance at the dispatch box for defense questions a week starting Monday.
In a letter to his local association, Heappey expressed his decision to withdraw from politics to prioritize his family and pursue a different career path.
He reflected on the honor of serving the Wells constituency for nearly a decade and pledged to make the most of his remaining days as an MP.
James Heappey (Credits: The Independent)
While sources close to Heappey clarified that his resignation isn’t linked to the state of the Ministry of Defence, it’s understood that Sunak proposed Heappey to continue in his role until the election. However, Heappey opted to step down earlier to concentrate on his constituency and future endeavors.
At 43, Heappey secured his Somerset seat with a significant majority in the 2019 elections, and despite facing boundary changes, the constituency remains within the Conservatives’ reach.
Widely respected for his competence, Heappey frequently appeared in media interviews and was appointed as a minister by Boris Johnson in 2022.
