By Tim Baker, political reporter
Housing Secretary Michael Gove and former business secretary Andrea Leadsom have said they 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".
Just hours later on Friday evening, Ms Leadsom, who unsuccessfully stood to lead the Conservative Party against Theresa May in the wake of the Brexit referendum, said she would also be standing down.
In her resignation letter, Ms Leadsom said it has been "the greatest honour to serve the people of South Northamptonshire as their MP for the last 14 years".
Ms Leadsom, who is currently a junior health minister, was business secretary under Mrs May.
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