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James Brokenshire: Northern Ireland Secretary resigns James Brokenshire: Northern Ireland Secretary resigns
(35 minutes later)
Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire has resigned from government, the Northern Ireland Office has confirmed.Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire has resigned from government, the Northern Ireland Office has confirmed.
It's understood he requires surgery soon for a lung condition. It is understood he requires surgery for a lung condition.
Mr Brokenshire, 50, took the role in July 2016, replacing Theresa Villiers.Mr Brokenshire, 50, took the role in July 2016, replacing Theresa Villiers.
He was first elected as the Conservative MP for Old Bexley & Sidcup in May 2010. He was subsequently re-elected in 2015 and again in 2017 with more than 60% of the vote. Prime Minister Theresa May paid a warm tribute to the outgoing secretary of state, and wished him a "speedy recovery".
His resignation comes almost a year to the day that the Northern Ireland Assembly collapsed following a scandal over a renewable energy scheme.
The coalition led by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin fell apart when the late Martin McGuinness resigned as deputy first minister on 9 January, 2017.
Despite months of negotiations aimed at restoring power-sharing, the parties have been unable to reach a deal to return to government.
In a letter to Mr Brokenshire, the prime minister wrote: "While it is typical of you that your first thought was not for yourself, but for your duties as a cabinet minister and public servant, it is absolutely right that you should put your health first, for your sake and that of your family."
Mr Brokenshire first elected as the Conservative MP for Old Bexley & Sidcup in May 2010. He was subsequently re-elected in 2015 and again in 2017 with more than 60% of the vote.
He lives in Bexley with his wife, Catherine, and the couple's three children.He lives in Bexley with his wife, Catherine, and the couple's three children.
Before entering parliament, Mr Brokenshire was a partner in an international law firm.Before entering parliament, Mr Brokenshire was a partner in an international law firm.
From May 2011 to May 2015, he served as security minister at the Home Office.From May 2011 to May 2015, he served as security minister at the Home Office.
That role included supporting Mrs May, the then home secretary, with oversight of the work of MI5 and the national police counter-terrorism network.That role included supporting Mrs May, the then home secretary, with oversight of the work of MI5 and the national police counter-terrorism network.
BBC News NI political correspondent Gareth Gordon
As far as Theresa May was concerned, at a time of unprecedented upheaval, James Brokenshire was probably as near to a being a safe pair of hands as her current Cabinet possessed.
But in Northern Ireland, as devolution collapsed around him, he was often dismissed as a "do-nothing" secretary of state who allowed the situation to drift when decisive action was required.
For republicans and nationalists, he and his government were seen as being too close to the DUP.
As far as some in the DUP were concerned, he should have already moved towards introducing direct rule in the face of what they saw as Sinn Fein intransigence.
Caught between these two positions, he appeared to be impotent, but whoever replaces him will face exactly the same problems.
His responsibilities also included the government's counter-terrorism strategy and he was part of the prime minister's extremism taskforce.His responsibilities also included the government's counter-terrorism strategy and he was part of the prime minister's extremism taskforce.
He also led negotiations with the Jordanian government to secure the deportation of the radical cleric Abu Qatada.He also led negotiations with the Jordanian government to secure the deportation of the radical cleric Abu Qatada.