Former UK Prime Minister Theresa May has announced her decision to quit as a member of parliament at the upcoming general election, set to occur later this year. May, 67, revealed her intentions to step down, making her the most senior member of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative party to opt out of seeking re-election.
Having represented the Maidenhead constituency in southeast England since 1997, May served as prime minister from 2016 to 2019—a tumultuous period marked by the UK’s negotiations for its departure from the European Union. In a statement to the local Maidenhead Advertiser newspaper, May expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve her constituents and champion causes close to her heart, such as launching a Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.
May cited the increasing demands of her advocacy work as a reason for her decision, stating, “After much careful thought and consideration, I have realized 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.”
During her tenure, May also served as interior minister from 2010 to 2016 under then-leader David Cameron. Following Cameron’s resignation after the Brexit referendum in June 2016, May assumed the role of prime minister. However, her attempts to navigate the Brexit process were met with challenges, including a hung parliament after a general election in 2017 and the failure to secure parliamentary support for her Brexit deal.
May’s leadership was also marked by significant national events, including terror attacks in London and Manchester, as well as the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy in London, which claimed 72 lives. Her decision to step down as Conservative leader was announced in June 2019, following her inability to garner support for her Brexit deal from Members of Parliament.
