The Tories in the West who lost their seats
Rishi Sunak will resign as Tory leader once arrangements are in place to choose his successor
- Published
In a historic day in politics, the Conservative Party has seen more than 200 seats taken by other parties.
The party has had five leaders, and prime ministers, in less than 10 years.
Rishi Sunak has confirmed he will resign as Tory leader once arrangements are in place to choose his successor.
In the west, Sir Jacob Rees Mogg, Alex Chalk, Liam Fox and Robert Buckland all had to say goodbye.
Jacob Rees-Mogg
How did election night go in the Bristol and Bath area? BBC Radio Bristol takes you through the details
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg entered the Commons in 2010 as MP for North East Somerset.
Between him, his late father and his sister, the seat had been contested seven times unsuccessfully.
Unapologetically upper-class, he was once cheekily-labelled the "Honourable Member for the 18th Century".
When asked earlier in his career what his political aspirations were, he replied: “If I were offered the papacy, I’d take it.”
Sir Jacob held several government posts, playing a significant role in Boris Johnson’s pledge to "Get Brexit Done".
But he was comfortable in his unofficial role as a contrarian, lying across the Commons benches during a speech by then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
He loved BBC local news and was overheard saying to another TV crew: "If Points West is here, I’ll speak to Points West. If not, I must go on my way.”
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said he would always speak to BBC Points West
Alex Chalk
In 2019, Mr Chalk faced a hostile crowd after Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue parliament
Cheltenham-born Alex Chalk was elected to serve the town of his birth in 2015.
With a background as a barrister, he served as Prisons Minster and later as a justice minster under Boris Johnson.
Brexit created turbulence for the remainer-supporting politician.
In 2019, Mr Chalk faced a hostile crowd outside his constituency office in Cheltenham, outraged at Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue parliament.
He scraped through the 2019 winter election with a majority of 981.
Mr Chalk now leaves Rishi Sunak's departing government as Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary.
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Robert Buckland
Mr Buckland was appointed as Lord Chancellor by Boris Johnson in 2019
Robert Buckland was elected MP for South Swindon in 2010, and was re-elected three times into the position.
In July 2019, he appointed Lord Chancellor by Boris Johnson and helped the then prime minister controversially suspend parliament, arguing it was merely a routine suspension, much like that for the Queen’s Speech.
However, two months later the Supreme Court ruled the suspension as unlawful.
In 2022, he held the post of Welsh Secretary for three months.
Later that year, he appeared on BBC Points West and sang the Welsh national anthem.
What happened in Wiltshire? Dan O'Brien takes you through the details
Liam Fox
Mr Fox stood for party leader in 2005, but lost to David Cameron
Liam Fox was elected MP for Woodspring in 1992 - the same year Margaret Thatcher left the House of Commons as an MP and two years after her resignation as Prime Minister.
He stood for party leader in 2005, commenting that he was not prepared to take part in the "cult of personality" - he lost out to David Cameron.
In 2010, he was caught up in the MPs’ expenses scandal, accused of overclaiming £22,476 in mortgage interest payments, money he later repaid.
Mr Fox then served as Defence Secretary under the 2010 coalition government and as Trade Secretary under Theresa May.
He now leaves his North Somerset constituency - a seat that has not been held by another party for more than a century.
More local election news
Hear from the newly elected Somerset MPs filling the green benches
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- Published5 July
- Published5 July
