Chris Grayling, the former Transport Secretary, has announced he will not seek to be re-elected as a Member of Parliament at the upcoming general election. Grayling has been MP for Epsom and Ewell in Surrey since 2001 and also served as Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Chancellor.
Grayling made the announcement following a prostate cancer diagnosis earlier this year. He revealed in a statement to his local Conservative constituency association on Friday that, “although the treatment has been successful, it has prompted me to think that after 22 years it is time for a change.”
Grayling’s successor as Conservative candidate for Epsom and Ewell will be selected by the association. Grayling said in his statement that he will continue working as normal until the election.
Grayling was criticised during his tenure as Transport Secretary and earned the nickname “Failing Grayling” from opposition MPs. He resigned from the role when Boris Johnson became Prime Minister. Grayling secured a position advising some of the UK’s top ports in September 2020, despite concerns from watchdogs that it would give Hutchison Ports an unfair advantage.
BBC South East reports that Grayling’s decision not to seek re-election will trigger a contest for the safe Conservative seat in Epsom and Ewell, which he previously won with a majority of 24,000 votes
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