Mrs May said it had been an ‘honour and privilege’ to serve as MP for Maidenhead
Former Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will stand down as an MP at the next general election.
She said it had been a “difficult decision” to vacate the Maidenhead seat in Berkshire after 27 years.
Mrs May, Conservative prime minister from 2016 to 2019, said causes such as tackling modern slavery were taking an “increasing amount” of her time.
She is now one of 64 Tory MPs who have announced their decision to leave the Commons at the next election.
They include former ministers Matt Hancock, Dominic Raab, Chris Grayling, Ben Wallace, Sajid Javid and Kwasi Kwarteng.
In the statement to her local paper the Maidenhead Advertiser, she said she had “always done her best” to respond to the needs of local people.
Mrs May, 67, became prime minister in July 2016 after the resignation of David Cameron following the Brexit referendum. She had been home secretary for six years and was a chief architect of the so-called “hostile environment” for immigrants, which led to “go home” vans being sent into areas with large migrant communities.
Her three years in Downing Street were dogged by the Brexit aftermath. Mrs May, who backed remaining in the European Union, came up against strong opposition within the Tory party over her attempts to secure a deal with Brussels.
A snap election in 2017 saw the Conservatives lose their majority in the House of Commons, which some blamed on her manifesto pledge to raise billions of pounds for social care – dubbed a “dementia tax” by critics. She remained in No 10 after striking a deal with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party.
At the Conservative Party conference months later, Mrs May’s speech suffered several setbacks: she struggled with a coughing fit, was presented with a P45 by a protester, while letters fell off the wall behind her as she spoke.
Her leadership style was often described by critics as “robotic” – something she answered with a dance to Abba’s Dancing Queenbefore her speech at the party conference in 2018, which became known as the “Maybot”.
Image source, PA Media
Theresa May delivers her resignation speech
Eventually, opposition to her proposed Brexit deal led to Conservative MPs holding a confidence vote in her leadership, and although she survived her authority was diminished and she announced her resignation in a tearful speech five months later.
A visibly upset Mrs May ended her time at the head of government by stating she had “enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country I love.”
She went to the backbenches from where she was a vocal critic of her successor Boris Johnson before he left Downing Street in 2022 following a mass revolt by ministers over his leadership.
Mrs May is now one of 64 Tory MPs and about 100 from across all parties who will stand down at the end of this parliament. She had a majority of 18,846 at the last election.
She said: “Since stepping down as prime minister I have enjoyed being a backbencher again and having more time to work for my constituents and champion causes close to my heart, including most recently launching a Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.
“These causes have been taking an increasing amount of my time.
“Because of this, after much careful thought and consideration, I have realised that, looking ahead, I would no longer be able to do my job as an MP in the way I believe is right and my constituents deserve.
“I have therefore taken the difficult decision to stand down at the next general election.”
She said she remained committed to supporting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, adding that the Conservatives could win the general election, which is expected to be held later this year.
Image source, PA Media
Theresa May dances the “Maybot”
Mrs May said there was “no greater privilege” than being an MP, and said serving as prime minister and home secretary would “not have been possible” without the people of Maidenhead.
Gareth Davies, a Treasury minister, said he was saddened by the decision. “I think it’s very good when former leaders stay in the House of Commons and contribute to debates,” he told Sky News.
“She’s certainly brought a lot to debates since she’s stood down, and so I’m very sad personally, but wish her well and I think she’s justified in moving on after 27 years.”
He denied that the number of Tories standing down indicated a lack of confidence in the party’s prospects. “This is what happens when you approach a new election,” he said.
Anneliese Dodds, the shadow secretary of state for women and equalities, said Mrs May’s decision was further evidence of a lack of confidence in Mr Sunak.
“I think this really strengthens those calls for change, those calls for a general election,” she said.
