Former prime minister Theresa May was all smiles this morning as she attended church in her Maidenhead constituency after announcing she would not be standing at the next general election.
Mrs May, 67, was clutching a light olive green handbag and wearing a maroon-coloured jumper and trousers as a light blue and white tartan scarf shielded her from the cold as she arrived at the service.
She was all smiles as she walked into the church alongside her grinning husband, Philip, who waved to photographers as they walked into the church.
It comes 24 hours after Mrs May announced her 27 years in the Commons would be coming to an end after making a ‘difficult decision’ for her name not to appear on the ballot paper at the next election.
She led the Tories through three years of torrid Brexit infighting between 2016 and 2019 in the wake of the EU referendum, joins a growing list of MPs opting to quit the House voluntarily.
Former prime minister Theresa May and her husband Philip were all smiles this morning as they attended church in her constituency after announcing she would not be standing at the next general election
Mrs May, 67, was clutching an olive green handbag and wearing a maroon-coloured jumper and trousers as a light blue and white tartan scarf shielded her from the cold as she arrived at the service in Maidenhead where she was greeted by a black and white pooch
Mrs May has represented the safe Tory seat in Maidenhead since 1997 and won the last election with a majority of 18,846.
Rishi Sunak led tributes to her public service – although Labour swiped that it was evidence MPs had ‘no confidence’ in the PM.
Known for her fondness for bold kitten heels – in contrast to her buttoned-down public persona – Mrs May has been a major player in the Conservatives since the early 2000s. She famously told activists at their 2002 conference that they were seen as the ‘nasty party’.
Mrs May, a self-professed ‘bloody difficult woman’, was one of the longest-serving Home Secretaries in modern political history during David Cameron’s premiership.
She surprised many by grabbing the top job in 2016, becoming Britain’s second woman PM after Cameron quit and Boris Johnson’s bid imploded.
But the writing was on the wall after she called a snap election the following year and ran a disastrous campaign, notoriously U-turning on social care plans while awkwardly insisting ‘nothing has changed’.
After emotionally quitting as PM Mrs May has intervened sparingly, but has been ready to criticise the government at key moments. She is likely to be elevated to the House of Lords if she wishes.
In a statement on her social media channels, Mrs May said: ‘It has been an honour and a privilege to serve everyone in the Maidenhead constituency as the Member of Parliament for the last 27 years.
‘Being an MP is about service to one’s constituents and I have always done my best to ensure that I respond to the needs of local people and the local area.
Mrs May tearfully quit as PM in 2019 after three years of bitter Tory infighting on Brexit
Mrs May said it was ‘the honour of her life’ to serve as prime minister (Pictured in March 2019)
Theresa May pictured outside Downing Street with her husband Philip in 2019
Theresa May revealed she is bringing her 27 years in the Commons to an end after announcing she was standing down as an MP at the next General Election
‘Since stepping down as Prime Minister I have enjoyed being a backbencher again and having more time to work for my constituents and champion causes close to my heart including most recently launching a Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.
‘These causes have been taking an increasing amount of my time.
‘Because of this, after much careful thought and consideration, I have realised that, looking ahead, I would no longer be able t o do my job as an MP in the way I believe is right and my constituents deserve.
‘I have therefore taken the difficult decision to stand down at the next General Election.’