Who are MPs stepping down before the next general election?

·9-min read
Former deputy prime minister Dominic Raab will not contest his Surrey seat again  (PA Wire)
Former deputy prime minister Dominic Raab will not contest his Surrey seat again (PA Wire)

Dominic Raab’s confirmed departure from Parliament at the next general election means around 10 per cent of current Tory MPs will not stand again.

The former deputy prime minister is among a number of Conservatives heading for the door with the party still behind Labour in polls – although members of the opposition benches are also set to step aside.

Tory MP Matthew Offord said the role had “required great sacrifices in my personal and professional lives”, and will not stand again for the seat he has filled since 2010.

Former health secretaries Sajid Javid and Matt Hancock, now an independent, will also not run in the next election, which must be held no later than January 2025 but is likely to be before that. Labour MPs stepping down include former frontbenchers such as Harriet Harman and Margaret Hodge.

Here is the complete list of MPs likely to be or confirmed to be standing aside.

Matt Hancock, Independent MP for West Suffolk

Matt Hancock (Victoria Jones/PA)
Matt Hancock (Victoria Jones/PA)

Former health secretary Matt Hancock announced he would be stepping down following his appearance on I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!, which lost him the Conservative whip.

Julian Knight, Independent MP for Solihull

Julian Knight (UK Parliament/PA Media)
Julian Knight (UK Parliament/PA Media)

A former Conservative who became an independent. He remains suspended from the Tories despite an investigation into an alleged sexual assault against him being dropped.

Chris Pincher, Independent for Tamworth

Chris Pincher (/PA) (UK Parliament/PA Media)
Chris Pincher (/PA) (UK Parliament/PA Media)

The scandal engulfing the former Conservative MP was one of the reasons why Boris Johnson came to be replaced as prime minister.

Conservatives

Adam Afriyie, Conservative MP for Windsor

Adam Afriyie (Adam Afriyie / UK Government)
Adam Afriyie (Adam Afriyie / UK Government)

Adam Afriyie has been an MP since 2005. He announced that he would step down in July, adding: “It is a double and unexpected honour to have been elected the first black Conservative MP in the history of our party.”

Nigel Adams, Conservative MP for Selby and Ainsty

Nigel Adams (PA Archive)
Nigel Adams (PA Archive)

Nigel Adams has been an MP since 2010 but said in 2019 that he wanted to step down to pursue other interests.

Stuart Anderson, Conservative MP for Wolverhampton South West

Only an MP since 2019, the Tory has chosen to step back due to “personal and family reasons”.

Sir Paul Beresford, Conservative MP for Mole Valley

The 77-year-old is intending to retire before the next election comes around.

Crispin Blunt, Conservative MP for Reigate

Crispin Blunt (UK Parliament/PA Media)
Crispin Blunt (UK Parliament/PA Media)

Crispin Blunt will step down after serving as an MP for 25 years. He recently came under fire for supporting MP Imran Ahmad Khan, who was jailed for sexually assaulting a teenage boy.

Sir Graham Brady, Conservative MP for Altrincham and Sale West

Senior Tory Sir Graham Brady will not stand for re-election (PA Wire)
Senior Tory Sir Graham Brady will not stand for re-election (PA Wire)

One of the names at the top of the Conservative Party who will not be an MP beyond 2024 is Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the influential 1922 committee.

Dehenna Davison, Conservative MP for Bishop Auckland

Dehenna Davison (Getty Images)
Dehenna Davison (Getty Images)

Dehenna Davison, 29, said: “I’ve dedicated the vast majority of my time to politics, and to help make people’s lives better. But, to be frank, it has meant I haven’t had anything like a normal life for a 20-something.”

Nadine Dorries, Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire

Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries (PA Archive)
Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries (PA Archive)

Having defended her former boss Boris Johnson to the hilt, the former culture secretary announced she would be departing from her slot on TalkTV.

George Eustice, Conservative MP for Camborne and Redruth

Former environment secretary George Eustice (PA Wire)
Former environment secretary George Eustice (PA Wire)

Boris Johnson’s former environment secretary has been an MP for 15 years but is set to step back to a life outside politics.

Jo Gideon, Conservative MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central

Conservative MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central Jo Gideon (Jessica Taylor/PA Media)
Conservative MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central Jo Gideon (Jessica Taylor/PA Media)

With a small majority of just 670, the Tory may have been in for a defeat had she decided to stand but has instead elected to step back.

Sir Robert Goodwill, Conservative MP for Scarborough and Whitby

An MP since 2005, Sir Robert served under both David Cameron and Theresa May.

Gordon Henderson, Conservative MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey

The veteran will reach the age of 76 by 2024 and has decided to retire.

John Howell, Conservative MP for Henley-on-Thames

The MP of 15 years said his age and interests were his reasons for stepping back.

Sajid Javid, Conservative MP for Bromsgrove

Sajid Javid (Stefan Rousseau / PA)
Sajid Javid (Stefan Rousseau / PA)

Sajid Javid, who has served as home secretary and chancellor, said he would quit as an MP, but the decision would not “mark the end of my parliamentary activity”.

Pauline Latham, Conservative MP for Mid Derbyshire

Having won the seat in 2010, Ms Latham now wants to pursue other projects.

Stephen McPartland, Conservative MP for Stevenage

The Tory will not contest the seat he has held since 2010.

Matthew Offord, Conservative MP for Hendon

Matthew Offord takes a walk (Nigel Howard/ES)
Matthew Offord takes a walk (Nigel Howard/ES)

The London MP has announced he will not fight the next general election, saying his time in office “has required great sacrifices in my personal and professional lives”.

He said resigning would mean he was “able to pursue other interests in my life”.

Andrew Pawsey, Conservative MP for Rugby and Bulkington

An MP since 2010, the Tory will hand over the baton in 2024.

Sir Mike Penning, Conservative MP for Hemel Hempstead

Sir Mike Penning (PA Archive)
Sir Mike Penning (PA Archive)

Now 64, the Tory said he is now set to retire.

Andrew Percy, Conservative MP for Brigg and Goole

Andrew Percy in 2017 (PA)
Andrew Percy in 2017 (PA)

With his constituency set to be abolished, the Tory has said he will not seek re-election.

Dominic Raab, Conservative MP for Esher and Walton

Dominic Raab will stand down as an MP at the next general election (James Manning/PA Wire)
Dominic Raab will stand down as an MP at the next general election (James Manning/PA Wire)

The former deputy prime minister was defending a slender majority of 2,743 and the Norfolk seat is expected to be targeted by the Liberal Democrats in 2024.

Nicola Richards, Conservative MP for West Bromwich East

“Domestic circumstances” have led the MP to not seek re-election.

Douglas Ross, Conservative MP for Moray

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross (PA Wire)
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross (PA Wire)

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives is set to focus on his role as an MSP.

Chris Skidmore, Conservative MP for Kingswood

Chris Skidmore (David Mirzoeff/PA)
Chris Skidmore (David Mirzoeff/PA)

When announcing he would be stepping down, Chris Skidmore said: “With no alternative seat, I have decided that I do not wish to fight another constituency elsewhere in the region or country, especially with a very young family who deserve to see more of their father in their lives.”

Chloe Smith, Conservative MP for Norwich North

Chloe Smith (Isabel Infantes / AFP via Getty Images)
Chloe Smith (Isabel Infantes / AFP via Getty Images)

Chloe Smith has been an MP since 2009. She said in a statement: “I hope I’ve been able to make a difference, locally, and nationally.  In 2024, after 15 years of service, it will be the right time to step back, for me and my young family.”

Henry Smith, Conservative MP for Crawley

The foreign affairs committee member said it was “time for a new generation” in stepping back.

Gary Streeter, Conservative MP for South West Devon

Gary Streeter (Chris McAndrew/PA Media)
Gary Streeter (Chris McAndrew/PA Media)

Gary Streeter said in a statement: “It has been an honour and privilege to serve the people of South West Devon and I will continue to do so until the next election.”

Edward Timpson, Conservative MP for Eddisbury

Edward Timpson in 2008
Edward Timpson in 2008

The son of shoe repair shop founder Sir John Timpson will be taking on other projects when he intends to leave Westminster next year.

Sir Charles Walker, Conservative MP for Broxbourne

Sir Charles Walker (House of Commons / PA)
Sir Charles Walker (House of Commons / PA)

Sir Charles Walker has been an MP since 2005 but will not run in the next general election. He also said he thought “quite a lot” of Conservative MPs would quit ahead of the next election.

Robin Walker, Conservative MP for Worcester

The former education and Northern Ireland minister said he wanted to prioritise his family.

Craig Whittaker, Conservative MP for Calder Valley

Another of the 2010 intake to step down.

William Wragg, Conservative MP for Hazel Grove

William Wragg (Parliament TV PA Media)
William Wragg (Parliament TV PA Media)

William Wragg, the vice-chairman of the influential 1922 Committee, is also stepping down. He said in a statement: “I shall continue to represent constituents to the best of my ability in the meantime and thank everyone for their wonderful support over the years.”

Labour

Dame Margaret Beckett, Labour MP for Derby South

Dame Margaret Beckett (PA Media)
Dame Margaret Beckett (PA Media)

Dame Margaret Beckett has been an MP since 1983 and has been deputy leader of the Labour Party, leader of the House of Commons, later Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, and Foreign Secretary.

Paul Blomfield, Labour MP for Sheffield Central

Paul Blomfield (PA Media)
Paul Blomfield (PA Media)

Paul Blomfield, 69, has been an MP since 2010, a role which he described as an “extraordinary privilege”. He will step down in the next election.

Ben Bradshaw, Labour MP for Exeter

Ben Bradshaw (Laura Lean/PA)
Ben Bradshaw (Laura Lean/PA)

Ben Bradshaw, who has served as Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, announced earlier this year that he would not be running again.

Jon Cruddas, Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham

Jon Cruddas (Jane Mingay / PA)
Jon Cruddas (Jane Mingay / PA)

Jon Cruddas will step down after 21 years, and said that serving as an MP has been “the greatest honour of [his] life”.

Alex Cunningham, Labour MP for Stockton North

Alex Cunningham (UK Government)
Alex Cunningham (UK Government)

Alex Cunningham has been an MP since 2010 but announced last year that he would not run again.

Wayne David, Labour MP for Caerphilly

Wayne David is stepping down as an MP. (UK Government)
Wayne David is stepping down as an MP. (UK Government)

Wayne David is stepping down due to his age, ahead of his 65th birthday. He said in a statement: “While some may disagree, I think at that age, I would not be able to represent my constituents as effectively as I would like. It is time to make way for a younger person.”

Colleen Fletcher, Labour MP for Coventry North East

Colleen Fletcher (UK Government)
Colleen Fletcher (UK Government)

Colleen Fletcher, who has been an MP since 2015, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that it was time to “move on” and “pursue some new challenges”.

Harriet Harman, Labour MP for Camberwell and Peckham

Harriet Harman (Niall Carson / PA)
Harriet Harman (Niall Carson / PA)

Harriet Harman has been an MP since 1982 but will not run in the next election.

Dame Margaret Hodge, Labour MP for Barking

Margaret Hodge (Yui Mok / PA)
Margaret Hodge (Yui Mok / PA)

Dame Margaret Hodge has served as an MP since 1994 and roles include Minister of State for Work.

Barry Sheerman, Labour (Co-op) MP for Huddersfield

Barry Sheerman (Barry Sheerman)
Barry Sheerman (Barry Sheerman)

Barry Sheerman announced last year that he would be leaving, after representing his constituency since 1979.

Dr Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton

Alan Whitehead is stepping down as an MP at the next election. (UK Government.)
Alan Whitehead is stepping down as an MP at the next election. (UK Government.)

The 71-year-old MP announced in January that he would be stepping down because he “could not give a further five-year commitment to the role of MP”.

Dame Rosie Winterton, Labour MP for Doncaster Central

Dame Rosie Winterton (Ian Nicholson / PA)
Dame Rosie Winterton (Ian Nicholson / PA)

Deputy speaker Dame Rosie Winterton will step down as an MP after serving since 1997.

Wayne David, Labour MP for Caerphilly

Wayne David (UK Government)
Wayne David (UK Government)

Wayne David is stepping down due to his age, ahead of his 65th birthday. He said in a statement: “While some may disagree, I think at that age, I would not be able to represent my constituents as effectively as I would like. It is time to make way for a younger person.”

Plaid Cymru

Hywel Williams, MP for Afron

Hywel Williams (UK Government)
Hywel Williams (UK Government)

Hywel Williams will retire after serving as an MP since 2001. He said serving as an MP was a “huge privilege” and “a special honour”.