24 May 2024 , 20:29
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Michael Gove has become the latest high-profile Conservative MP to announce he is standing down ahead of the General Election on July 4.
The Housing Secretary joined a growing parliamentary exodus as he praised Rishi Sunak for espousing ‘the very best virtues’ of the Tory party but said ‘it is time to leave’.
It came as the number of his Conservative MPs not seeking re-election hit 76 on Friday – surpassing the previous record of 72 who quit prior to Sir Tony Blair’s 1997 landslide win for Labour.
Among them is ‘Bionic MP’ Craig Mackinlay, who returned to the House of Commons this week after losing his limbs to sepsis.
Elsewhere, Sir Keir Starmer insists he will ‘have to earn every vote’ when the country goes to the polls – despite the PM’s campaign getting off to a ‘farcical’ start.
The Labour leader smiled as he was asked whether it was ‘possible you could still lose the election’.
Mr Sunak was drenched as he announced the vote outside No 10 and followed that with a ‘football gaffe in a brewery’ and a day visiting Belfast’s Titanic quarter, ‘named after a sinking ship’.