Tracey Crouch becomes 57th Tory MP to quit before election

Tracey Crouch, the former Tory minister, has announced that she will not stand in the next general election, becoming the 57th Conservative MP to say they will step down.

The MP for Chatham and Aylesford, who has held the seat since 2010, said the reasons behind her decision were “entirely personal and positive”.

Ms Crouch cited her diagnosis and treatment for cancer in a letter to her local Conservative association, saying it had been an opportunity to reflect on her “personal priorities”.

The former sports minister is the 57th Tory MP to announce they will not stand at the next election – more than at any point since Labour’s landslide victory in 1997.

Kwasi Kwarteng, the former chancellor, has also announced that he will not be seeking re-election, along with Nickie Aiken, the Tory deputy chairman.

Ms Crouch, 48, led the Government’s review of football governance in 2021 and is an FA-qualified football coach.

In the letter to her local Conservative association, she wrote: “I am writing to confirm my decision to not stand as a candidate at the next general election.

“As I explained, the reasons for not wishing to stand are entirely personal and positive. While everyone’s cancer journey is different, for me going through a diagnosis and coming out the other side of treatment has been a life-affirming experience.

“It has been an opportunity to pause and reflect on my own personal priorities and, based on that, I truly believe it is time to seek a new professional challenge.”

Tom Tugendhat, the security minister, said after the announcement: “A great friend, a great MP. Chatham, and I, will miss you.”

Ms Crouch was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 and last week thanked the King for making his cancer diagnosis public, saying: “I am sure he has done it to inspire others to get checked – and if, by doing that, he saves one life he has done an amazing job.”

Last year, the Chatham and Aylesford MP, who won her seat in 2019 with a majority of more than 18,000, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for a breast cancer charity.”