Boris Johnson's Government has been hit by more resignations this morning. News of the two resignations were broken to new Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi while he was being interviewed on BBC Radio 4.
Laura Trott has resigned her role as parliamentary private secretary to the Secretary of State for Transport. She said in a Facebook post: “Trust in politics is – and must always be – of the upmost importance, but sadly in recent months this has been lost.
“Thank you to all of you who have written to me expressing your views. I have read them carefully, and taken them into consideration as part of my decision. I have, and will always, put the residents of Sevenoaks and Swanley front and centre of my work in Westminster.”
Will Quince has resigned as children’s minister after he repeated assurances over the Chris Pincher scandal which were “found to be inaccurate”.
In his letter tendering his resignation as children and families minister, the MP for Colchester said he had “no choice” after he appeared on television to defend Boris Johnson using Downing Street briefings “which have now been found to be inaccurate”.
His letter said: “Dear Prime Minister. Thank you for meeting with me yesterday evening and for your sincere apology regarding the briefings I received from No 10 ahead of Monday’s media round, which we now know to be inaccurate.
“It is with great sadness and regret that I feel that I have no choice but to tender my resignation as minister for children and families as I accepted and repeated those assurances in good faith.
“It has been an honour to serve in government since 2019 at both the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education.
“Reaching this decision has not been easy. Stepping away from a job I love, where we are working every day to improve the life chances of vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people up and down our country, pains me greatly.
“I will miss it hugely but pledge to do all I can to continue this important work from the backbenches.
“I would like to take this opportunity to put on record my sincere thanks to the hundreds of dedicated and hard-working civil servants with whom it has been a pleasure to work.”
More as we get it
