THE Tory exodus continued today as armed forces minister James Heappey announced he would not be standing for re-election.

The Conservative MP for Wells, Somerset, said he wanted to “pursue a different career” as he became the 62^nd Tory MP to throw in the towel.

He follows former prime minister Theresa May – who announced her impending departure last week – and with four former Conservatives who now sit as independents also leaving more than a fifth of the 2019 intake of Tory MPs will or have quit.