UK: Rishi Sunak faces mass exodus of MPs ahead of elections: Who are his Conservative challengers?

With ministers Michael Gove and Andrea Leadsom opting out, a total of 78 Conservative MPs have quit the election race, beating the previous record of 72 from 1997. Sunak's party is far behind in opinion polls after high inflation, low economic growth and a series of political scandals.

London: Ahead of Britain's upcoming general election on July 4, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's problems are exacerbating as he is facing a mass exodus of senior Conservative MPs, who have opted to not stand for re-election as the embattled party is predicted to suffer its worst-ever defeat to the opposition Labour Party. A whopping 78 members of the Tories have quit the electoral race, further casting a shadow over Sunak's popularity in the party and his prospects in the election.

Cabinet ministers Michael Gove and Andrea Leadsom became the latest Tory frontliners to announce their decision to not stand for re-election in this summer’s polls. Gove’s announcement was anticipated among fears of strong anti-incumbency for the Conservative MPs after 14 years in power. Leadsom released her own letter shortly after, writing to Sunak about her decision to not stand for re-election.

"No one in politics is a conscript. We are volunteers who willingly choose our fate. And the chance to serve is wonderful. But there comes a moment when you know that it is time to leave. That a new generation should lead," said Gove in his announcement on social media, speaking about the "toll office can take." It puts the total number of sitting Tories saying they will not stand again at 78, beating the previous record of 72 from 1997, according to the Guardian.

Former prime minister Theresa May is also among the senior MPs stepping away, with former defence minister Ben Wallace already having announced his decision to leave frontline politics. Amid the exodus, Sunak is also under fire for taking a "day off" by stepping away from the campaign trail and spending the day at home in his constituency and in London, holding discussions with his closest advisers.

While one source was quoted as saying that the idea that Sunak was hoping to reset his campaign was “ridiculous”, another campaign operative claimed that “prime ministers don’t normally spend the first weekend of the campaign at home talking to their advisers”. On the other hand, Sunak's Labour rival Keir Starmer is in full campaign swing planning to use the day at public events designed to focus on his argument that the Conservatives have damaged the economy.