Children and families minister Will Quince has announced his resignation this morning saying he had “no choice” after he appeared on television to defend Boris Johnson.

The minister was using Downing Street briefings “which have now been found to be inaccurate” he continued.

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The MP for Colchester tweeted a photograph of his letter of resignation to Boris Johnson, adding: “With great sadness and regret, I have this morning tendered my resignation to the Prime Minister after I accepted and repeated assurances on Monday to the media which have now been found to be inaccurate.

“I wish my successor well – it is the best job in Government.”

In his letter tendering his resignation as children and families minister, Will Quince 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”.

The Northern Echo:

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.

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“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.”

He becomes the latest Tory minister to resign following the shock resignation of former chancellor Rishi Sunak and former health secretary Sajid Javid.

A number of MPs and Parliamentary Private Secretaries have also resigned this morning.

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