A growing number of British MPs, predominantly Conservative, have said they shall “not” participate in the next general election, which has yet to be called.
Earlier this month the Maidenhead constituency in southeast England woke up to the resignation of its conservative MP of 27 years, Former Prime Minister, Theresa May.
Hers was one of up to 100 other well established, as well as younger, MPs across the political parties announcing they wouldn’t be running in the, yet to be announced, next general election.
Scottish Nationalist Party member Martyn Day explains why so many are choosing to go.
For some, it’s just age, they’ve reached retirement age and now they’re going, for others, they’ve got family commitments and they want to do that or other things with their lives.
But for some it’s the toxic nature of politics, it is the toxic nature of social media where they’re being trolled, and for some they have actually been physically stopped and threatened with violence.
Martyn Day, Scottish Nationalist Party MP
One MP Caroline Lucas, the parliaments only Green MP of 14 years, has cited the dysfunctionality of Parliament as her reason.
This parliament has always been dysfunctional. I think perhaps one of the benefits of social media and modern television is that we see it more.
It’s not fit for the 21st century I don’t think it was fit for the 20th century.
It’s a Victorian construct and it worked in their day.
It doesn’t work in our day, we should have electronic voting, we should have proportional representation systems and we shouldn’t have an unelected second chamber.
Martyn Day, Scottish Nationalist Party MP
But while resignations are not uncommon ahead of a general election, it is different this time around, at least as far as the ruling Tories are concerned.
You’ve heard the phrase ‘rats deserting a sinking ship’; clearly the Tory ship is sinking and that’s why so many of them are jumping overboard and seeking refuge elsewhere.
Chris Williamson, Former Labour MP
Britons will vote in local elections in May. The Tories are 26 points behind the opposition Labour Party in opinion polls. Pressure is growing on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to call an early general election.
As things stand, there won’t be a general election in May but one in the second half of the year seems more likely.
Nevertheless, catastrophic results in the upcoming local elections could mean that Rishi Sunak and his conservative party’s days in power are numbered.
