The election exodus of the Tory big hitters:  Former PM Theresa May, ex-chancellors Nadhim Zahawi and Sajid Javid, and Boris's deputy Dominic Raab among more than 100 MPs standing down on July 4 amid fears hundreds of Conservatives will lose their seats

Former prime minister Theresa May is leading an exodus of Tory big-hitters who are quitting Parliament at the July 4 election - amid fears hundreds of Conservative MPs could lose their seats. 

Three former chancellors, Sajid Javid, Nadhim Zahawi and Kwasi Kwarteng are leaving the Commons' green benches behind.

And Dominic Raab, the former deputy prime minister and foreign secretary is also among 66 Tory MPs who have so far decided not to contest the election.

COP26 president Sir Alok Sharma, current Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and ex-health secretary Matt Hancock - now an independent are also passing on the political baton.

More than 100 from across all parties have already decided to bow out. And with MPs now having only until June 7 to decide whether they will stand or not, all eyes will be on the remaining big beasts to see whether they will fight or flee.

Many Tories in marginal seats the North and Midlands have already decided to stand down rather than risk being defeated. But a large number of MPs in more affluent seats in the South are also calling it a day.

James Grundy has become the latest Tory MP to stand down. Wigan Today reported that the member for Leigh will stand down after becoming the first non-Labour MP for the seat in Greater Manchester in a century in 2019. An announcement is expected later today. 

On the other side, Mother of the House Harriet Harman, 73, is the most experienced of some 20 Labour MPs to be standing down.

The group also includes ex-Foreign Secretary Dame Margaret Beckett and ex-Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw.

Labour's deputy chief whip Holly Lynch became the 103rd MP to announce her decision not to contest her seat last night.

Nine SNP MPs announced they will not contest their seats, along with seven independents, two from Sinn Fein, one from Plaid Cymru and the Green Party's sole MP, Caroline Lucas.

The future of some legislators is still unknown.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been barred from standing for the party in his Islington North seat, but has not yet announced whether he will run as an independent.

Ahead of the 2019 election, 74 MPs chose not to contest their seats again.