Are MPs doing the ‘chicken run?’

It’s a sign of the tensions within the parliamentary Conservative party that talk of colleagues swapping constituencies is currently a major talking point in the Commons tea rooms. This week two more members of the 2019 Tory intake announced that they would not be seeking re-election in their constituencies. Both Nicola Richards and Stuart Anderson released lengthy statements explaining their decision – but neither MP explicitly ruled out standing again in another seat. Keiran Mullan has meanwhile declined to comment on claims that he will switch from Crewe and Nantwich to the new Chester South and Eddisbury seat.

Some Tories disparagingly refer to the ‘chicken run’ – the term coined to describe the trend of Conservative MPs fighting to secure safer seats ahead of New Labour’s landslide. David Amess, Nicholas Soames, Brian Mawhinney and George Young were among those who fought for new, safer seats in 1997, earning the label of ‘chicken’, fairly or not.