Morgan blames ‘abuse’ as she joins MP exodus
‘Parliament is supposed to respect votes cast by the electorate’
CULTURE Secretary Nicky Morgan sensationally quit the Commons last night while slamming Parliament for not “respecting the votes of the electorate”.
Ms Morgan, who has been a Conservative MP since 2010, joined Amber Rudd and Sir David Lidington in announcing yesterday that they would not stand at the upcoming General Election.
Despite describing her time in the Commons as “the greatest privilege of my life”, Ms Morgan hit out at “abuse” received by MPs in a letter to Loughborough Conservatives chairman Trevor Ranson.
She said: “I have always believed that it is through politics that real and positive change can be made to our communities and country.
“But the clear impact on my family and the other sacrifices involved in, and the abuse for, doing the job of a modern MP can only be justified if, ultimately, Parliament does what it is supposed to do – represent those we serve in all areas of policy, respect votes cast by the electorate and make decisions in the overall national interest.”
Ms Morgan also wrote on Twitter: “For the first time in 18 years I won’t be a candidate in the next General Election. I look forward to supporting the PM, Government, Conservative Party and my successor in the future.”
Earlier, Ms Rudd sparked an extraordinary row with Downing Street after revealing she would quit despite having made peace with Boris Johnson.
The former home secretary gave up the Tory whip in solidarity with 21 Remainer rebels who were expelled by the Prime Minister last month.Ten have been brought back into the fold.
Ms Rudd made clear she had hoped to have the whip restored.
However, in a brutal letter, chief whip Mark Spencer refused her plea to be let back in.
He said: “You were clear that you did not support the approach of the PM and did not have confidence in him. I take the view that the receipt of the whip is an honour, not a right, and as such it cannot be discarded or returned at will if it is to have any meaning.”
Ms Rudd shot back: “Funny thing really, as just last week the PM asked me to stand in the General Election.”
She also delivered a thinly veiled swipe at Downing Street strategist Dominic Cummings, saying the chief whip had been briefed by the “wrong No 10 sources”.
Ms Rudd had a wafer-thin majority of just 346 in the 2017 election – meaning her seat is one of Labour’s top targets.
However, 56 per cent of the constituency voted Leave, suggesting that a Brexiteer Conservative candidate might have better prospects.
Ms Rudd said: “I’m not finished with politics, I’m just not standing at this election.”
She added: “I spoke to the Prime Minister and had a good meeting with him a few days ago.
“I’m really confident of my position. I will be leaving the House of Commons on perfectly good terms with the Prime Minister and I want him to succeed.”
Meanwhile, David Lidington, de facto deputy PM under Theresa May, said he wants to spend more time with his family while he is “still in active and good health”.
The pair joined an exodus of 58 MPs, including Speaker John Bercow, who will stand down when Parliament is dissolved next week.
The group includes veteran Tories Michael Fallon, Winston Churchill’s grandson Nicholas Soames and Alistair Burt.
Boris Johnson’s brother Jo is stepping down, as is former home secretary Ken Clarke, arch-Remainer Oliver Letwin and former Cabinet member Justine Greening.
Mr Clarke is the longest-serving MP in the Commons, having served his Rushcliffe constituency for almost half a century.
And Vince Cable is one of three Liberal Democrats calling it quits.
Despite the growing number of MPs standing down, the tally is actually the second lowest in the past 30 years.
Before the 2010 general election, more than 140 MPs quit.