Rory Stewart’s Lofty Aims

Britain’s Parliament was formally dissolved [this week] to make way for next month’s general election. Though the election campaign has only just begun, dozens of lawmakers—including recent government ministers, veteran parliamentarians, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s own brother—have already said they won’t run again.

The exodus of more than 70 MPs (and ) is not just a simple case of political turnover. Many of the lawmakers who have opted to sit out this election are considered to be the of the House of Commons, particularly when it comes to their positions on Brexit. Though they have all cited their own reasons for stepping down—from family obligations to the “” of the current political discourse—the underlying cause is clear: Parliament, much like the rest of the country, remains bitterly divided over Britain’s bid to leave the European Union, and the center ground is dwindling between those who wish to see Brexit happen by any means