The Latest Breaking News from Margaret Beckett

She is quitting the Commons with no regrets. The UK’s first female foreign secretary discusses chauvinism, Corbyn, contempt for politicians – and her worst period in office

Sixty-six MPs who already plan to stand down at election have 987 years between them, analysis shows

Author Jilly Cooper and actor Emilia Clarke also honoured

On reflection, David Owen was probably too “leading man handsome” to help the SDP break the mould of British politics. That’s right, I’ve been re-watching old BBC election night broadcasts again. This time, it’s back to the Seventies and Eighties for Ted Heath’s miscalculation, Jim Callaghan’s sunny (albeit misplaced) optimism…

Letters: Stephen Locke, Lawson’s former private secretary, on how rewarding it was to work for him, and Margaret Beckett on his divisive legacy. Plus letters from Mark Hebert, Valerie Gidlow and Greg Quiery

At the general election that year, the number of women in the Commons jumped to (an albeit still tiny) 41. Some talk about the sexism – and the solidarity

Labour minister whose campaign skills forced government action on a range of life-saving social changes in the law

Theresa May, Kwasi Kwarteng, Sajid Javid and Harriet Harman are among the big names standing down

Matt Hancock is to stand down as he looks to “influence the public debate” outside Parliament