Ken Clarke, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, has announced that he is to finally step away from politics after serving in Westminster for 50 years.
The 75-year-old has reportedly told constituency officers that they will need to look for another ‘successor’ ahead of the next General Election.
Speaking to China Daily, the former contender for leader of the Conservative party, said: ‘I will not stand again. This is my last parliament.’
The Remain campaigner added that any Government implementing a Leave vote would ‘actually be a minority government’.
The MP for Rushcliffe in Nottingham returned to the back benches after a Cabinet re-shuffle in July 2014, having previously been appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.
Mr Clarke has been serving his constituency since 1970 and is currently the longest serving MP, alongside Labour’s Dennis Skinner.
Mr Clarke has served in Cabinet governments spanning three decades - serving as Health Secretary under Margaret Thatcher, Chancellor under John Major and Justice Secretary under David Cameron.
He also became famous for wearing suede Hush Puppies shoes.
Mr Clarke stood for Tory leader three times in his career as an MP but failed on all three occasions in 1997, 2001 and 2005.
He was installed as Justice Secretary in 2010, but was slammed by members of his own party for 'going soft'.
