Former prime minister Theresa May is leading an exodus of Tory big-hitters who are quitting Parliament at the July 4 election - amid fears hundreds of Conservative MPs could lose their seats. 

Three former chancellors, Sajid Javid, Nadhim Zahawi and Kwasi Kwarteng are leaving the Commons' green benches behind.

And Dominic Raab, the former deputy prime minister and foreign secretary is also among 68 Tory MPs who have so far decided not to contest the election.

COP26 president Sir Alok Sharma, current Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and ex-health secretary Matt Hancock - now an independent are also passing on the political baton.

More than 100 from across all parties have already decided to bow out. And with MPs now having only until June 7 to decide whether they will stand or not, all eyes will be on the remaining big beasts to see whether they will fight or flee.

Many Tories in marginal seats the North and Midlands have already decided to stand down rather than risk being defeated. But a large number of MPs in more affluent seats in the South are also calling it a day.

Dame Eleanor Laing, one of the Deputy Speakers of the Commons, became the latest to step down this afternoon, confirming she would not contest her Epping Forest seat in Essex.

Dame Eleanor, who has served for 27 years, said in a post on X that she had informed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak 'several days ago'.

Dame Eleanor said: 'It is very difficult to give up a job that you love. I have come to conclusion, however, that it is now time for me to move aside and give others the opportunities that I have been so fortunate to have.'

She added: 'I will wholeheartedly continue to support the work of the association and, whomever my successor might be, I will do all that I can to help in the forthcoming campaign.'

James Grundy also quit today. The Tory member for Leigh became the first non-Labour MP for the seat in Greater Manchester in a century in 2019. In a statement on his website he said: 'I have spoken before about the death threats aimed at my elderly parents after the Gaza debate, seen a colleague murdered, seen another have his office burned down and others either stepping down or changing constituencies due to harassment and abuse, to give just some examples during this Parliament. 

'This not healthy for our national politics and needs to change, and with that in mind I have decided not to seek re-election.'

On the other side, Mother of the House Harriet Harman, 73, is the most experienced of some 20 Labour MPs to be standing down.

The group also includes ex-Foreign Secretary Dame Margaret Beckett and ex-Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw.

Labour's deputy chief whip Holly Lynch became the 103rd MP to announce her decision not to contest her seat last night.

Nine SNP MPs announced they will not contest their seats, along with seven independents, two from Sinn Fein, one from Plaid Cymru and the Green Party's sole MP, Caroline Lucas.

The future of some legislators is still unknown.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been barred from standing for the party in his Islington North seat, but has not yet announced whether he will run as an independent.

Ahead of the 2019 election, 74 MPs chose not to contest their seats again.