Rishi Sunak made a surprise mini reshuffle on Tuesday after two ministers resigned.
Robert Halfon and James Heappey resigned with the general election just months away. The education and armed forces ministers will resign as MPs when voters go to the polls.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr. Halfon said that after two decades in politics “the time has come for me to step down”. The MP for Harlow said:
“I believe that across the country, there is quiet admiration for your work ethic, integrity and ability to solve complex problems faced by our country. I look forward to continuing to wholeheartedly supporting you from the backbenches in the weeks and months ahead, at the upcoming election, and of course, to spending my remaining time as an MP, championing Harlow. My time is over: it is no longer my task to set things to rights, nor to help folk to do so.”
Mr. Heappey, a former soldier, said he took the “the painful decision” to “prioritise my family and pursue a different career”. He posted on X:
“I’ve loved every minute as Minister for the Armed Forces in this incredible department. Our Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence civil servants are the very best of us. Representing them in Parliament and around the world over last four and a half years has been an amazing privilege.”
Leo Docherty, who has already served as Defence Secretary and is a former army captain, will replace Mr. Heappey. Luke Hall has been appointed to the Department for Education following Mr. Halfon’s departure.
Other ministerial reshuffles include Nus Ghani becoming Minister for Europe at the Foreign Office and Alan Mak becoming a junior minister at the Department for Business and Trade and the Cabinet Office. Kevin Hollinrake, who had been a junior minister as Minister for the Postal Service, has now been promoted to Minister of State in the Department of Business and Trade.
The double resignation comes as a blow to the Prime Minister just hours after he faced questioning from the Commons Liaison Committee. So far 63 Tories have announced their intention to step down. In separate letters, Mr. Sunak thanked them for their “service to our party”.
Earlier today Labour’s shadow defence secretary John Healey praised Halfon for his “total commitment” to British defence.
