Former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has announced he will step down as an MP at the election.
Kwarteng, who represents Spelthorne, in Surrey, said he had told his constituency association on Monday that he would not fight the election.
He tweeted: “It has been an honour to serve the residents of Spelthorne since 2010, and I shall continue to do so for the remainder of my time in Parliament.” Kwarteng holds the seat with a majority of 18,393.
This comes as the Conservative Party battles devastating polling ahead of the general election, expected to take place later this year.
Former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has announced he will step down as an MP at the election
PA
Polling conducted by YouGov last month shows the party is heading for a 1997-style defeat, with every single Red Wall seat won from Labour by Boris Johnson in 2019 being lost.
The data, published after speaking to 14,000 people, forecasts that the Tories will retain just 169 seats. Meanwhile, Labour would win 385 seats – handing the party a 120-seat majority.
The survey is the most extensive polling to be carried out since the last general election took place.
Kwarteng was a close ally of former PM Liz Truss and served as her Chancellor, overseeing the chaotic mini-budget which ultimately led to her resignation.
He was sacked as his chancellor 38 days after being appointed.
The announcement comes on the day Truss launches her new 'Pop Con' group.
Truss will be joined by senior Tory party figures including Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Lee Anderson at the group's launch today.
The announcement comes on the day Truss launches her new 'Pop Con' group
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As the headline speaker, Rees-Mogg is expected to say: "Domestically, we have seen power go from the democratic parts of the constitution to the appointed parts.
"This has made the government less responsive to the needs of the people and closer to those who have a hierarchical, internationalist view of government.
"Popular conservatism is about restoring this balance and returning power to Parliament while taking it away from quangos and a judiciary that has become more political."
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While the group is not seeking to replace Rishi Sunak before the next election, it is pushing for radical reform and a move towards a "pro-growth" agenda.
Mark Littlewood, who is leading the new movement alongside Truss, wrote in the Telegraph: "It is up to the Conservatives to make the case for economic freedom and lower taxes."
