FORMER Prime Minister Theresa May announced that she was standing down as an MP today, joining a sixth of Conservatives set to quit Parliament at this year’s general election. 

In a statement to her local newspaper, the Maidenhead Advertiser claims that championing causes including most recently launching a Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking “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.”

Ms May was first elected as MP for Maidenhead in 1997 and served as home secretary under David Cameron between 2010 and 2016 before succeeding him as prime minister.

A series of “hostile environment” policies that she introduced while home secretary, in the 2014 and 2016 Immigration Acts, led to thousands of people from the Windrush generation experiencing difficulties accessing NHS healthcare, benefits, pensions and work. 

Diane Abbott, Britain’s first black female MP, said: “It should never be forgotten that Theresa May was the architect of the ‘hostile environment’ policy that led directly to the Windrush scandal.”

Shadow secretary for women and equalities Anneliese Dodds said that Ms May’s decision to stand down was further evidence of a lack of confidence in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Almost 60 Conservatives have now said they will stand down at the next general election.

Ms Dodds said: “This is obviously a very significant decision from Theresa May to stand down at the next election.

“We’ve heard this from a large number of Conservative sitting MPs.

“They’ve decided not to stand for the next election, and I think that does reveal that frankly there’s no confidence in Rishi Sunak, nor indeed in the Conservative Party to be a party of government for the future.”

Ms May’s three years in Downing Street were dominated by wrangling over Brexit.

A self-inflicted snap election in 2017 saw her lose her majority as Jeremy Corbyn won Labour its biggest vote share increase in 70 years.

Mr Sunak described her as “a relentless campaigner” and “a fiercely loyal MP to the people of Maidenhead” who “defines what it means to be a public servant.”