Michael Gove QUITS parliament: Cabinet minister heaps pressure on Rishi Sunak by becoming the most high-profile MP to join record-breaking Tory election exodus days after backing PM’s decision to call vote on July 4 [Video]

14:02 EDT 24 May 2024, updated 14:38 EDT 24 May 2024

Cabinet minister Michael Gove tonight became the most high-profile Tory to reveal they will quit the Commons at the next election.

The Communities Secretary, 56, who has served under four Conservative Prime Ministers since 2015, confirmed he will not contest his Surrey Heath seat on July 4.

One of the Tories‘ great survivors, his career overcame an infamous split with Boris Johnson in 2016 when he announced he would run for party leader having led his Brexit Referendum ally’s own campaign.

He is also well known for his love of partying outside of politics, having been pictured clubbing in Aberdeen in 2021.

Despite having a majority of 18,349 the Liberal Democrats regard his Blue Wall seat in the Home Counties as an election target, with leader Ed Davey heading there first after Rishi Sunak’s announcement on Wednesday.

He tonight became the 77th Conservative MP to stand down. The previous …