Telegraph:
Mark Simmonds resignation follows Baroness Warsi’s decision to quit over the crisis in Gaza. He will stand down as an MP at the election because of the “so huge and so negative” impact on family life.
Mark Simmonds became the second minister to resign from the department in a week following Baroness Warsi’s decision to quit over the crisis in Gaza.
Mr Simmonds has held the post of Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office since 2012 and had responsibly for Africa and the Caribbean.
John Spellar MP, Labour’s shadow Foreign Office minister, responding to Mark Simmonds’ resignation, said: “Mark Simmonds’ resignation raises further questions about the Prime Minister’s judgement and is another blow to a Government already reeling from Sayeeda Warsi’s departure from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office last week. The new Foreign Secretary has now lost two ministers in just a few days.
“At a time when the FCO should be focused both on the crisis in Iraq and the situation in Gaza following the recent appalling violence there, David Cameron’s Government instead risks looking increasingly rudderless, and characterised by confusion.
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