Another senior Conservative MP has announced he will not contest the next election.
John Maples,66, was first elected as Member for Lewisham West in1983.
He lost his seat in 1992 and has been MP for Stratford-on-Avon since the 1997 general election.
He was a member of the shadow cabinet from 1997 to 2000 and served as economic secretary to the Treasury under John Major.
Since 2006 he has been deputy chairman of Conservatives with responsibility for candidates, overseeing the controversial 'A List' introduced by David Cameron.
"After a great deal of thought I have decided to retire from the House of Commons at the next election," Maples said.
"I expect great things of a Cameron administration and I will continue to give him and the party my complete support."
The procedure for selecting his successor as Conservative candidate for Stratford-upon-Avon will take place under the party's emergency candidate selection rules, which came into force at the start of the year.
Central Office will impose a shortlist of three candidates on the local association instead of activists choosing their own shortlist.
More than 120 MPs have announced they are to stand down at the next election - for more details visit our ELECTION 2010 pages.
