Another one bites the dust. Theresa May has today become the 60th Tory MP to announce she is standing down at the next election – and easily the most high-profile. The Maidenhead backbencher, who served as prime minister from 2016 to 2019, generously gave the scoop to her local newspaper. In a statement, she told the Maidenhead Advertiser that since returning to the backbenches she has championed:

Causes close to my heart including most recently launching a Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. These causes have been taking an increasing amount of my time. Because of this, after much careful thought and consideration, I have realised that, looking ahead, I would no longer be able to do my job as an MP in the way I believe is right and my constituents deserve.

It means that, following Boris Johnson’s resignation last summer, Liz Truss will be the only ex-premier left in the House of Commons. A sad loss to parliament but at least it leaves May with more time to go to ABBA concerts…