Housing Secretary Michael Gove will not stand at general election

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has said he will not stand at the general election.

Mr Gove announced after nearly 20 years as the Conservative Party MP for Surrey Heath, and serving in multiple cabinets over the course of the last 14 years, "a new generation should lead".

In a letter to his constituency chairman, the veteran cabinet minister said being an MP and minister has been a "profound privilege".

General election latest: Housing Secretary Michael Gove standing down

"As a child in Aberdeen I could never have imagined I would have the opportunity to sit in the Commons, let along the cabinet table," he wrote.

"That four prime ministers asked me to serve the country in their governments has been the honour of my life."

Mr Gove held roles including education secretary, chief whip, justice secretary, environment secretary, chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster, and most recently the housing brief.

He was also a vocal leader of the Vote Leave campaign during the Brexit debate.

There was also his shock decision to withdraw his backing for Boris Johnson in the 2016 leadership election to replace David Cameron - which ended up seeing Theresa May take the reins of the party.

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