Waving farewell to the halls of Westminster

A huge amount has happened in politics since the last general election just two years ago, and Theresa May’s decision to call a snap vote offered an escape route for those MPS who were ready to call time on their parliamentary careers.

Among those bowing out are some big beasts who, back in 2015, had surely not expected to be abandoning the green benches so soon.

In total, there are 31 MPS – 14 Labour, 12 Conservative, one Lib Dem, one Sinn Fein and three independent MPS who stood down before the poll. George Osborne – The 45-year-old once seen as David Cameron’s heir was sacked as chancellor and recently took over as editor of the London Evening Standard. He has given up his Tatton seat and is leaving parliament, in his words, “for now”. Sir Eric Pickles – The former Conservative Party chairman and communities secretary had previously said that the next parliamentary term would be his last, although the 65-year-old, who has been MP for Brentwood and Ongar for 25 years, perhaps did not expect it to end so soon. Alan Johnson – When the 66-year-old former postman and union official gave up his Hull West and Hessle seat after 20 years it finally dashed any remaining hopes among those who have regarded him as the best leader the party never had. Douglas Carswell – Ukip’s first MP, who served the constituency of Clacton on Sea under various banners for 12 years, has recently sat as an independent after falling out with Paul Nuttall’s party. He said he would be backing the Conservatives – from whom he defect- ed to Ukip in 2014. Gisela Stewart – the Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, who has been in parliament since 1997, was a prominent figure in the campaign to leave the EU. Andy Burnham – The mayor of Greater Manchester announced he would not contest the Leigh seat he has held for 16 years even before winning election to his new job last month. The former health secretary twice contested the Labour leadership, coming second to Jeremy Corbyn in 2015. Natalie Mcgarry – Elected after a swing of more than 30 per cent to the SNP in Glasgow East in 2015, Ms Mcgarry resigned the party whip months later over a police investigation. She remained as an independent while facing fraud charges, but decided against seek re-election. Michelle Thomson –Won Edinburgh West with a 3,210 majority in 2015, but resigned the SNP whip due to a police investigation into various property deals.

Ms Thomson was overlooked by her party for the seat and decided against standing as an independent candidate.

Others who did not seek re-election included Andrew Tyrie, the longserving chairman of the Treasury select committee, who has been Conservative MP for Chichester for 20 years; Steve Rotheram, Labour MP for Liverpool Walton who was last month elected as Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region.