A post-war record for MPs standing down
Wednesday's news from the Conservative MP Robert Key that he is standing down at the next election brings the number of retirements announced so far to 120 according to the BBC tally, though Julie Kirkbride (Conservative) and Andrew Pelling (Independent) may change their minds and stand again after all.
Either way - 118 or 120 - this is a new post-war record.
It exceeds the 116 MPs who stepped down in 1997, and within the next few weeks the total this time is likely to beat the 128 retirements in 1945.
That was at the end of a Parliament which had lasted 10 years, so was bound to be pretty high.
Many MPs do not announce their retirements until the last moment, so on current trends the number stepping down in 2010 could end up well above 150, around a quarter of the House of Commons.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on 
Comment number 1.
At 16:21 2nd Dec 2009, jauntycyclist wrote:maybe the job is appealing only if you have your moat cleaned on the taxpayer?
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Comment number 2.
At 16:23 2nd Dec 2009, barriesingleton wrote:WITH HONOUR?
All taking fat pensions 'within the rules' I suppose?
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Comment number 3.
At 21:01 2nd Dec 2009, ltfcunited wrote:Just like a bus, hardly any blogs for days at a time, then 3 all at once!
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Comment number 4.
At 22:07 2nd Dec 2009, DebtJuggler wrote:...and none of them should be replaced.
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Comment number 5.
At 11:37 3rd Dec 2009, stevie wrote:and good riddance to all of them....
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Comment number 6.
At 18:24 23rd Dec 2009, Glenn Tingle wrote:This shows "Rats leaving a sinking ship" - there evidently isn't enough money to float on now! I'm sure they can survive on their second job incomes! And what do MPs spend their £65k salary on anyway!
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