Michael Gove steps down in mass exodus of MPs before election

Long-serving Conservative cabinet minister Michael Gove has announced he will not stand for re-election as an MP at the general election.

Mr Gove, who was first elected MP for Surrey Heath in 2005, began his cabinet career as education secretary when David Cameron became prime minister in 2010.

It is understood he made the decision in the last couple of days.

Mr Gove has been a close ally of Rishi Sunak, and also served under Theresa May and Boris Johnson.

Alongside Mr Johnson, he was one of the leaders of the Leave campaign in the 2016 Brexit referendum.

His decision comes as more than 70 Conservative MPs have announced they are leaving Parliament rather than fight the election on 4 July.

Mr Gove had a majority of 18,349 at the last general election. But his Surrey Heath seat is a key Liberal Democrat target on 4 July.

The Lib Dems claimed Mr Gove was “running scared” of their candidate Alasdair Pinkerton, who came second in the constituency in 2019.

Lib Dem Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said: “Conservative politicians are fleeing the blue wall in their droves.

“The drumbeat of Conservative MPs stepping down has been getting louder as the days go by - now it’s deafening."

In a letter to his local Conservative Association chairman, Mr Gove thanked party members for helping him to win his seat at five general elections.

He said his parents, who adopted him when he was four months old, brought him up with the belief that "to help others is the greatest gift you can be given" as he grew up in Aberdeen.

Mr Gove said he could "never have imagined" having the opportunity to be an MP sitting in the Commons, "let alone around the Cabinet table" serving under four prime ministers - an unbroken 14 years apart from the brief premiership of Liz Truss.

He said he was grateful to Lord Cameron for giving him the chance to pursue education reform, Mrs May "who asked me to support her in challenging times", and Mr Johnson "who delivered Brexit and set out the levelling up vision".

Mr Sunak, he added, "asked me to return to government when I believed my ministerial career had ended" and allowed him to pursue the cause of levelling up.

In a hint at his 2022 divorce from journalist Sarah Vine, who he married in 2001 and with whom he has two children, Mr Gove said: "I also know the toll office can take, as do those closest to me."

He added: "The chance to serve is wonderful. but there comes a time when you know that it is time to leave. That a new generation should lead."

On Brexit, he said: "I am proud to have led the Vote Leave campaign alongside Boris Johnson and Gisela Stuart - which secured the largest mandate in modern British history for a vote to leave the European Union and take back control of our political destiny.

"Fundamentally our country is stronger with politicians in Westminster able to control our laws, our borders and our money.

"Since 2016 we have also increased NHS funding by considerably more than £350m a week."

Although he said "I have undoubtedly made mistakes", Mr Gove said he had "always tried to be a voice for those who have been overlooked and undervalued".

"I have tried to fight for greater social justice. My education reforms were designed to build a country where everyone - no matter their background - can become the authors of their own life stories," he added.