A TORY minister has quit Rishi Sunak’s government in a further blow to the Prime Minister.
Graham Stuart, an energy minister, announced his resignation with a letter to the Tory leader on Friday.
In late March, Sunak lost two ministers in one day after Robert Halfon joined James Heappy in leaving government. He was forced to do a mini-reshuffle.
After Stuart resigned, the UK Government announced a few changes to the ministerial team, including the creation of the “honorific title of deputy foreign secretary”.
In his resignation letter, the Tory MP said he was not resigning from politics and would contest the next General Election.
It’s been an enormous joy and privilege to serve as a minister over most of the last 8 years.
— Graham Stuart MP (@grahamstuart) April 12, 2024
I’m proud of all we have achieved as a government, not least being the first major economy to halve CO2 emissions.
I look forward to supporting the PM from the backbenches. pic.twitter.com/s3ykZI80qB
Stuart wrote: “It has been an enormous privilege to serve as a minister in your government since you took office as Prime Minister in 2022, and to have served your predecessors since my appointment as a whip in 2016.
“With your support we have achieved a lot in driving the energy transition. A few weeks ago we celebrated becoming the first major economy to halve its emissions and will, later this year, shut our last coal fired power plant as renewables displace fossil fuels.”
He went on: “Having served as a minister for most of the last eight years I have decided that now is the time to stand down.
“I intend to continue serving my constituents in Beverley and Holderness, campaigning on local issues and look forward to fighting and winning the seat later this year.”
In the mini-reshuffle prompted by Stuart’s resignation, Justin Tomlinson MP was made a Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Mims Davies MP was also made a Minister of State (Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work) in the Department for Work and Pensions.
Andrew Mitchell MP has also been given the newly made up “honorific title of deputy foreign secretary”.
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