Robert Halfon joins Tory exodus as he quits as a minister and says he won't ... trends now
The Tory exodus gathered pace today as Robert Halfon quit the government and declared he will not stand for Parliament again.
The skills minister made his surprise announcement, saying he felt it was the right time to leave.
The news came on the same day James Heappey formally stepped down as Defence minister, after taking a final session of questions in the Commons.
It brings the number of Tories confirmed as stepping down at the election to 63, with more who were Conservatives in 2019 not running again having since become independents.
In a letter to Rishi Sunak, Mr Halfon said: 'I feel that it is time for me to step down at the forthcoming General Election, and in doing so, to resign as a Minister in your Government.'
Skills minister Robert Halfon made his surprise announcement, saying he felt it was the right time to leave
The Tory exodus gathered pace today as Robert Halfon quit the government and declared he will not stand for Parliament again
The news came on the same day James Heappey formally stepped down as Defence minister, after taking a final session of questions in the Commons
Mr Sunak said: 'After well over two decades as the Harlow Parliamentary Candidate and as MP, I feel that it is time for me to step down at the forthcoming general election, and in doing so, to resign as a minister in your Government.'
Mr Heappey, the Conservative MP for Wells, Somerset, announced earlier this month his plan to quit as an MP and to stand down as a minister before then.
In a thread posted to X, he wrote: 'I've loved every minute as MinAF in this incredible department.
'Our Armed Forces & MoD civil servants are the very best of us.
'Representing them in Parliament & around the world over last 4.5 years has been an amazing privilege.'
In a letter to the Prime
