Tory minister reacts to record exodus of MPs before election: ‘It’s reasonable’

A Tory minister has said it is “reasonable” for long-serving MPs to stand down as a post-war record of 78 Conservative MPs have announced they will not seek re-election.

Speaking to Sky News, economic secretary to the Treasury Bim Afolami said: “It’s reasonable after people spending time doing a job for 20 to 30 years... that they choose to do something else.”

Housing minister Michael Gove cited the “toll” of public office as he announced he was stepping down as an MP after almost 20 years.

The total number of Tory MPs stepping down has surpassed the previous high of 72 who quit prior to Labour’s 1997 landslide.