Key Member of Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet Quits After Poll Announcement in UK

Britain’s Housing Minister Michael Gove, a high profile Conservative lawmaker and member of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government declared that he will not contest the coming polls, on Friday. He adds to the growing parliamentary exodus ahead of the July general election.

Gove, a one-time ally of ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson and a former education, justice and environment minister, became the 77th Conservative MP to announce that they will not contest for re-election.

Gove has served four Conservative Party Prime Ministers since 2015.

“After nearly twenty years serving the wonderful people of Surrey Heath (his constituency) and over a decade in cabinet across five government departments, I have today taken the decision to step down,” he wrote on X.

Sunak on Wednesday called for a general election on July 4.

But his Conservative Party is trailing behind the main opposition Labour Party in opinion polls. The sitting MPs opting out of elections is being seen as an indication of the level of demoralization among Sunak’s lawmakers.

Other high profile figures who have announced they will not seek re-election in July include former Prime Minister Theresa May, Northern Ireland Minister Chris Heaton-Harris, former armed forces minister James Heappey and former defence minister Ben Wallace.