US Edition Dozens will be spending the Easter weekend in discussion with their constituents and family members, as they consider whether to bow out of what has been described as the most “rotten Parliament” in recent history following the expenses scandal.
While it is customary for retiring MPs to announce their intention to quit long before a general election to give their successor time to build up their profile in the constituency, a number are said to be planning to wait until the last minute to reveal that they are stepping down.
Last week, Sir Ian Kennedy, head of the new expenses body, surprised Westminster by calling an end to the lucrative “golden goodbyes” of up to £65,000 paid to retiring MPs from the election after this one.
That means MPs who stay on for another term will be substantially out of pocket compared to those who stand down now – tempting many who had planned to remain for another five years to consider their position.
Others have been desperate to distance themselves from the expenses scandal, which began last May, hoping that their departure will not be linked to the controversy which saw more than half of all MPs forced to repay money and all but a small minority accused of abusing their allowances.
Still more are holding out until the last minute in order to wring sought-after appointments out of the party, such as the promise of a seat in the House of Lords, or a post within the European Union.
A former senior Cabinet minister told The Daily Telegraph that around 20 Labour MPs had informed party whips that they were considering their position.
They have until the end of next week at the very latest to announce their decision – the Prime Minister is expected to go to Buckingham Palace to ask Her Majesty the Queen to dissolve Parliament on Tuesday, and the campaign will begin in earnest the following Monday.
So far, 150 MPs have announced that they will be standing down at the forthcoming election, including 102 from Labour, meaning that the 2010 general election will see the highest number of voluntary departures since 1948.
There have been 85 announcements since the expenses scandal began, including 57 by Labour MPs.
Unusually, a number of ministers will be among those bowing out, including Barbara Follett, the Communities and Local Government Minister, who was ordered to repay the most money of any MP following the audit of Commons expenses. She returned £42,458 after claiming for private security patrols, six telephone lines and a fine art insurance premium.
Stephen Byers, the former trade secretary, Patricia Hewitt, former health secretary, and Geoff Hoon, former defence secretary, who were all caught up in the recent cash for lobbying furore, are also standing down.
From the back benches, the scandal-hit Margaret Moran, MP for Luton South, who claimed thousands for dry rot treatment at a seaside cottage miles from her constituency, is leaving.
Harry Cohen, the Leyton and Wanstead MP who claimed for a second home while renting out his “main property” has been stripped of the £65,000 he was due to receive on his departure.
Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Jim Devine, the trio of backbenchers charged with fraud over their expenses claims, will all also leave.
Ian Gibson, former MP for Norwich North who claimed for a flat in which his daughter lived rent-free, and Lord Martin, the former Commons speaker who quit amid criticism of his response to the scandal, have already stood down.
Other high profile Labour departures include John Prescott, the former deputy prime minister, John Reid, ex-home secretary, and Ruth Kelly, former education secretary.
Hilary Armstrong, the former chief whip, Alan Milburn, former health secretary, James Purnell, the ex-work and pensions secretary, and former defence secretaries Des Browne and John Hutton are all also leaving.