Senior Tory MP Tracey Crouch has become the next senior Tory MP to announce she will not be standing in the upcoming general election expected this year.
In a letter to her local Conservative Association, the former sports minister said: “The reasons for not wishing to stand are entirely personal and positive.
“Everyone's cancer journey is different. For me, going through a diagnosis and coming out the other side of treatment has been a life-affirming experience.
“It has been an opportunity to pause and reflect on my own personal priorities.
“And based on that, I truly believe it is time to seek a new professional challenge.
“We spend far too much time in our relatively short lives, putting things off. But at some point, you have to say to yourself, if not now, when? And, for me, I've realised that when is now.”
The Chatham and Aylesford MP has recovered from breast cancer after her diagnosis in 2020.
In 2023, she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for Breast Cancer Kent.
She was first elected in 2010 and led the Government’s Review of Football Governance.
The news comes after around 60 Conservative MPs confirmed they will step down before the country next goes to the polls.
Last week, Kwasi Kwarteng confirmed that he will not seek re-election.
Here is the complete list of MPs likely to be or confirmed to be standing aside.
Independents
Matt Hancock, Independent MP for West Suffolk
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 is 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
The scandal engulfing the former Conservative MP, concerning alleged groping claims, was one of the reasons why Boris Johnson came to be replaced as prime minister.
Bob Stewart, Independent for Beckenham
The former Tory MP confirmed his departure after the next general election after he was found to have told an activist to “go back to Bahrain”.
Conservative Party
Adam Afriyie, Conservative MP for Windsor
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 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 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
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.
Steve Brine, Winchester
The chairman of the health and social care select committee wants to “start a new chapter” in his life after 13 years in office.
Dehenna Davison, Conservative MP for Bishop Auckland
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.”
George Eustice, Conservative MP for Camborne and Redruth
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
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 be 76 in 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, 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
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
Now 64, the Tory said he is retiring.
Andrew Percy, Conservative MP for Brigg and Goole
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
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
The leader of the Scottish Conservatives is set to focus on his role as an MSP.
Chris Skidmore, Conservative MP for Kingswood
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 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 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
The son of shoe repair shop founder Sir John Timpson will be taking on other projects when he intends to leave Westminster next year.
Ben Wallace, Conservative MP for Wyre and Preston North
Defence secretary Ben Wallace has been an MP for Wyre and Preston North, formerly Lancaster and Wyre, since 2005. He will be stepping down in the next cabinet reshuffle. In terms of future plans, he said: “I’m quite happy to go and work at a bar.
“I feel quite fulfilled, and that gives me lots of options. I sometimes think I’d just like to go and do things I love, like Formula One or horse racing – just do something completely different.”
Sir Charles Walker, Conservative MP for Broxbourne
Sir Charles Walker has been an MP since 2005 but will not run in the next general election. He said he thought “quite a lot” of Conservative MPs would quit before the 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, the vice-chairman of the influential 1922 Committee, is 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 Party
Dame Margaret Beckett, Labour MP for Derby South
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, 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, who has served as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, announced earlier this year that he would not be running again.
Karen Buck, Labour MP for Westminster North
Buck had represented her constituency for 27 years before announcing her departure in 2024.
Jon Cruddas, Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham
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 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 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, 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”.
Margaret Greenwood, Labour MP for Wirral West
Elected in 2015, Greenwood said: "After a great deal of thought, I have decided that I will not put myself forward to stand to be a Member of Parliament at the next general election.”
Harriet Harman, Labour MP for Camberwell and Peckham
Harriet Harman has been an MP since 1982 but will not run in the next election.
Dame Margaret Hodge, Labour MP for Barking
Dame Margaret Hodge has served as an MP since 1994 and roles include Minister of State for Work.
Sir George Howarth, Knowsley
The long-time MP was a minister under Tony Blair and said it is the “right time” for a new candidate to represent the constituency.
Christina Rees, Labour MP for Neath
Rees was readmitted to the Labour Party after accusations of bullying. She apologised but said she would not be seeking reelection.
Barry Sheerman, Labour MP for Huddersfield
Barry Sheerman announced last year that he would be leaving, after representing his constituency since 1979.
Dr Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton
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
Deputy speaker Dame Rosie Winterton will step down as an MP after serving since 1997.
Plaid Cymru
Hywel Williams, MP for Afron
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”.
Green Party
Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion
Caroline Lucas, the Green Party’s only MP and former leader, will not stand at the next election. She said her role as an MP meant that she struggled to spend time on environmental issues.
Scottish National Party
Mhairi Black – Paisley and Renfrewshire
The SNP’s deputy Westminster leader Mhairi Black has said she will step down at the next general election, citing the “toxic” environment at Westminster as the reason for her departure, and that she was “tired”.
Ian Blackford – Ross, Skye and Lochaber
The MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber said last month he would not put himself forward. “Although I will not be standing for the Westminster Parliament at the next election, I look forward to playing my part in the continuing campaign for Scottish independence,” he said.
Stewart Hosie – Dundee East
Having served the constituency since 2005, the MP is set to take a step back having been the SNP's deputy leader to Nicola Sturgeon from 2014 to 2016.
He said: “I will, of course, remain an active member of the SNP and find other ways in which I can help further the cause of Scottish independence.”
Other MPs that have announced they are not seeking re-election
Conservatives
Lucy Allan, Conservative MP for Windsor
Richard Bacon, Conservative MP for South Norfolk
John Baron, Conservative MP for Basildon & Billericay
Bill Cash, Conservative MP for Stone
Chris Clarkson, Conservative MP for Heywood & Middleton
Jonathan Djanogly, Conservative MP for Huntingdon
James Duddridge, Conservative MP for Rochford & Southend East
Mike Freer, Conservative MP for Finchley & Golders Green
Jo Gideon, Conservative MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central
Nick Gill, Conservative MP for Bognor Regis & Littlehampton
Alister Jack, Conservative MP for Dumfries & Galloway
David Jones, Conservative MP for Clwyd West
Greg Knight, Conservative MP for East Yorkshire
Kwasi Kwarteng, Conservative MP for Spelthorne
Bob Neill, Conservative MP for Bromley & Chislehurst
Will Quince, Conservative MP for Colchester
Alok Sharma, Conservative MP for Reading West
Royston Smith, Conservative MP for Southampton Itchen
Tracey Crouch, Conservative MP for Chatham and Aylesford
Other parties
Crispin Blunt, Independent MP for Reigate
Patrick Grady, SNP for Glasgow North
Philippe Whittford, SNP for Central Ayrshire
