Former Chancellor George Osborne standing down as MP
The Tory broke the news in the Evening Standard newspaper, which he now edits.
Former chancellor George Osborne has announced he is standing down as an MP and will not contest a seat in the election.
Mr Osborne broke the news through the Evening Standard newspaper he now edits as he confirmed he would be leaving Parliament "for now".
The 45-year-old - who faced criticism for his dual roles after taking the editorship - said he would remain "active in the debate about our country's future".
The newspaper said he gave the reasons for his decision in a letter to Conservatives in his Tatton constituency.
"At the age of 45, I don't want to spend the rest of my life just being an ex-Chancellor. I want new challenges," Mr Osborne said.
"I will go on fighting for that Britain I love from the editor's chair of a great newspaper. It's still too early to be writing my memoirs."