London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Feb 21, 2026

Which MPs are standing down at the election?

The general election date is set and most MPs are entering campaign mode. Others, however, are clearing out their desk for the last time.

The House of Commons will lose over 1000 years of parliamentary experience with more than 60 incumbents preparing to stand down - and there may be more to come.

Here are the ones we know about so far:


Independents

Ken Clarke, is the longest serving MP in the House of Commons, known as the father of the house, having served his Rushcliffe constituency for almost half a century.

A long-time supporter of the UK's membership of the EU, he was expelled from the Conservative Party by Boris Johnson, after he rebelled against the government over Brexit.

Sir Oliver Letwin, the former Conservative minister and West Dorset MP, who was recently at the forefront of Parliamentary attempts to delay Brexit.

Former Education Secretary and Brexit rebel Justine Greening (Putney), who said she can "achieve more positive change outside Parliament" and will now focus specifically on improving social mobility.

One-time Conservative leadership candidate and walking enthusiast Rory Stewart (Penrith and the Border), who is focusing on trying to beat Sadiq Khan in next year's London mayoral election, as an independent candidate.

Former Home, and Work and Pensions, Secretary Amber Rudd, MP for the ultra-marginal Hastings and Rye seat, who resigned from the cabinet and surrendered the Tory whip over Brexit in September. She was not among those who had the whip restored by the PM on Tuesday.

Guto Bebb (Aberconwy), another Brexit rebel kept out in the cold by Boris Johnson - and so unable to stand as a Conservative candidate. Likewise Nick Boles (Grantham & Stamford).


Conservatives

Nicky Morgan (Loughborough), the current culture secretary, surprised Westminster watchers by announcing her departure, citing the "clear impact" on her family and "the other sacrifices involved in and the abuse for doing the job of a modern MP".

Claire Perry (Devizes), a former energy minister and president of COP26, a UN climate change conference.

Sir Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex), grandson of wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill, who was among those kicked out of the party by Boris Johnson over his opposition to a no-deal Brexit.

He has now been welcomed back into the fold, but is standing down.

Readmitted rebels Alistair Burt (North East Bedfordshire), Richard Harrington (Watford), Richard Benyon (Newbury).

Former Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon who has been the MP for Sevenoaks since 1997 and before that MP for Darlington.

Sir David Lidington (Aylesbury) de-facto deputy PM under Theresa May wants to spend more time with his family while he is "still in active and good health".

Former miner - and former minister - who has been in Parliament for 33 years - Sir Patrick McLoughlin (Derbyshire Dales).


Dame Caroline Spelman (Meriden), who cited "the intensity of abuse arising out of Brexit" in her resignation statement.

Jo Johnson (Orpington), the PM's brother, who resigned from the cabinet over Brexit.

Other Tory MPs leaving the green benches will be:

Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford)
Glyn Davies (Montgomeryshire)
Keith Simpson (Broadland)
Nick Hurd (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Mark Prisk (Hertford and Stortford)
Bill Grant (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock)
Sir Hugo Swire (East Devon)
David Tredinnick (Bosworth)
Mark Field (Cities of London and Westminster)
Seema Kennedy (South Ribble)
Sarah Newton (Truro and Falmouth)
Mims Davies (Eastleigh)
Sir Alan Duncan (Melton and Rutland)
Peter Heaton-Jones (North Devon)
Margot James (Stourbridge)
Mark Lancaster (Milton Keynes North)
Ross Thomson (Aberdeen South)
Sir Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk)


Labour

Of the Labour MPs who have announced their intention to step aside, a good number are either Brexiteers or against a second referendum.

Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Limehouse) and Sir Kevin Barron (Rother Valley) have all voted for Theresa May's Brexit deal at some stage. Veteran trade unionist Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley) and Kate Hoey (Vauxhall) backed leave in the 2016 referendum. John Mann (Bassetlaw) has already left and now sits in the House of Lords.

Ex-shadow justice minister Gloria De Piero (Ashfield), who expressed concern over the "lack of tolerance for different viewpoints" within her party in her resignation speech.

Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley), who at 82 is the oldest woman to sit in the House of Commons.

Louise Ellman (Liverpool Riverside) - who quit Labour over anti-Semitism within the party - and Joan Ryan (Enfield North) and Ann Coffey (Stockport) now of Change UK. Suspended ex-Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) is retiring. Now independent MP John Woodcock (Barrow and Furness) is having a baby with his partner.

Other Labour MPs stepping down are:

Stephen Pound (Ealing North)
Stephen Twigg (Liverpool West Derby)
Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham)
Geoffrey Robinson (Coventry North West)
Teresa Pearce (Erith and Thamesmead)
Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)
Albert Owen (Ynys Mon)
Jim Cunningham (Coventry South)
Ian Lucas (Wrexham)
Helen Jones (Warrington North)
Adrian Bailey (West Bromwich West)


Liberal Democrats

Former party leader - and cabinet minister in the coalition government - Sir Vince Cable (Twickenham).

Former coalition government minister Sir Norman Lamb (North Norfolk), who is leaving Westminster to focus on setting up a fund for people with mental health issues and learning disabilities.

Former Conservative and Change UK MP Heidi Allen (Cambridgeshire South), who only joined the Lib Dems a few weeks ago, said she had suffered "utterly dehumanising abuse" as an MP in a letter to her constituents announcing her future intentions.


The Speaker

In addition to being the House of Commons referee, former Conservative John Bercow is the MP for Buckingham, which he has represented since 1997.

Before he announced his decision to step down, the Conservative Party said it intended to break convention and run a candidate against him at the next election.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Confirms Preferential U.S. Trading Terms Will Continue After Supreme Court Tariff Ruling
U.S. and U.K. to Hold Talks on Diego Garcia as Iran Objects to Potential Military Use
UK Officials Weigh Possible Changes to Prince Andrew’s Position in Line of Succession Amid Ongoing Scrutiny
British Police Probe Epstein’s UK Airport Links and Expand High-Profile Inquiries
United Kingdom Denies U.S. Access to Military Base for Potential Iran Strike
British Co-founder of ASOS falls to his death from Pattaya apartment
Early 2026 Data Suggests Tentative Recovery for UK Businesses and Households
UK Introduces Digital-First Passport Rules for Dual Citizens in Border Control Overhaul
Unable to Access Live Financial Data for January UK Surplus Report
UK Government Considers Law to Remove Prince Andrew from Royal Line of Succession
UK ‘Working Closely with US’ to Assess Impact of Supreme Court Tariff Ruling
Trump Criticises UK Decision to Restrict Use of Bases in Potential Iran Strike Scenario
UK Foreign Secretary and U.S. State Chief Hold Strategic Talks as Tensions Rise Over Joint Air Base
Two teens arrested in France for alleged terror plot.
Nordic Fracture: How Criminal Scandals and Toxic Ties are Dismantling the Norwegian Crown
US Supreme Court Voids Trump’s Emergency Tariff Plan, Reshaping Trade Power and Fiscal Risk
King Charles III Opens London Fashion Week as Royal Family Faces Fresh Scrutiny
Trump’s Evolving Stance on UK Chagos Islands Deal Draws Renewed Scrutiny
House Democrat Says Former UK Ambassador Unable to Testify in Congressional Epstein Inquiry
No Record of Prince Andrew Arrest in UK as Claims Circulate Online
UK Has Not Granted US Approval to Launch Iran Strikes from RAF Bases, Government Confirms
AI Pricing Pressure Mounts as Chinese Models Undercut US Rivals and Margin Risks Grow
Global Counsel, Advisory Firm Co-Founded by Lord Mandelson, Enters Administration After Client Exodus
London High Court dispute over Ricardo Salinas’s $400mn Elektra share-backed bitcoin loan
UK Intensifies Efforts to Secure Saudi Investment in Next-Generation Fighter Jet Programme
Former Student Files Civil Claim Against UK Authorities After Rape Charges Against Peers Are Dropped
Archer Aviation Chooses Bristol for New UK Engineering Hub to Drive Electric Air Taxi Expansion
UK Sees Surge in Medical Device Testing as Government Pushes Global Competitiveness
UK Competition Watchdog Flags Concerns Over Proposed Getty Images–Shutterstock Merger
Trump Reasserts Opposition to UK Chagos Islands Proposal, Urges Stronger Strategic Alignment
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis advocates for a ban on minors using social media.
Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash Accuses Prime Minister of Lying to Australians
Meanwhile in Time Square, NYC One of the most famous landmarks
Jensen Huang just told the story of how Elon Musk became NVIDIA’s very first customer for their powerful AI supercomputer
A Lunar New Year event in Taiwan briefly came to a halt after a temple official standing beside President Lai Ching‑te suddenly vomited, splashing Lai’s clothing
Jillian Michaels reveals Bill Gates’ $55 million investment in mRNA vaccines turned into over $1 billion.
Ex-Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrested
Former British Prince Andrew Arrested on Suspicion of Misconduct in Public Office
Four Chagos Islanders Establish Permanent Settlement on Atoll
Unitree Robotics founder Wang Xingxing showcases future robot deployment during Spring Festival Gala.
UK Inflation Slows Sharply in January, Strengthening Case for Bank of England Rate Cut
Hide the truth, fake the facts, pretend the opposite, Britain is as usual
France President Macron says Free Speech is Bull Sh!t
Viktor Orbán getting massive praise for keeping Hungary safe, rich and migrant-free!
UK Inflation Falls to Ten-Month Low, Markets Anticipate Interest Rate Cut
UK House Prices Climb 2.4% in December as Market Shows Signs of Stabilisation
BAE Systems Predicts Sustained Expansion as Defence Orders Reach Record High
Pro-Palestine Activists Cleared of Burglary Charges Over Break-In at UK Israeli Arms Facility
Former Reform UK Councillors Form New Local Group Amid Party Fragmentation
Reform UK Pledges to Retain Britain’s Budget Watchdog as It Seeks Broader Economic Credibility
×