FORMER health secretary Sajid Javid has announced he will not stand again as an MP at the next General Election.
Javid, MP for Bromsgrove, said his decision had been “accelerated” by the fact MPs have been asked to confirm their intentions for contending the next nationwide poll at an “early stage”.
He becomes the latest in a steady stream of Tory MPs to say they will step back at the next UK-wide election, which will be no later than January 2025, as the party struggles to recover from a slump in the polls.
After much reflection I have decided that I will not be standing again at the next General Election. Serving as the Member of Parliament for Bromsgrove remains an incredible privilege, and I will continue to support the Government and the causes I believe in. pic.twitter.com/qskUo5jjOR
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) December 2, 2022
Senior Conservatives including Chloe Smith and William Wragg have also announced they will not be running again.
Sunak said he is “sad” his “good friend” Javid is planning to step down as an MP, adding: “May the Force be with you, Saj.”
Javid, who also previously served in the prominent Cabinet roles of chancellor and home secretary, said he had “wrestled” with the choice for “some time”, and was “very proud” of his work in Parliament and government.
He said the decision would not mark the end of his parliamentary activity, particularly for those causes he cares about “deeply”, nor will it impact his current duties as an MP.
He will continue to support his “friend” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in any way possible, he added.
In a letter to the Bromsgrove Conservative Association, Javid wrote: “Being the local MP and serving in government has been the privilege of my life and I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve.
“I always sought to make decisions in the national interest and in line with my values, and I can only hope my best was sufficient.
“I will of course continue to support my friend the Prime Minister and the people of Bromsgrove in any way I can.”
After Javid's announcement, the Prime Minister tweeted: “Sad to see my good friend @sajidjavid stepping back from politics.
“He’s been a proud champion of enterprise and opportunity during his time in Government and on the backbenches – particularly for the people of Bromsgrove.
“May the Force be with you, Saj.”
