This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42885987
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Lord Bates quits as government minister after arriving late | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A member of the House of Lords has stunned colleagues by resigning because he was late to the chamber. | A member of the House of Lords has stunned colleagues by resigning because he was late to the chamber. |
| Lord Bates said he was "ashamed" to not be in his place to answer a question from Labour's Baroness Lister. | Lord Bates said he was "ashamed" to not be in his place to answer a question from Labour's Baroness Lister. |
| He apologised for his "discourtesy" and said he would be offering his resignation as a minister to the PM, before walking out of the chamber. | He apologised for his "discourtesy" and said he would be offering his resignation as a minister to the PM, before walking out of the chamber. |
| Peers urged him in vain not to go, and Labour's leader in the Lords said an apology would have sufficed. | Peers urged him in vain not to go, and Labour's leader in the Lords said an apology would have sufficed. |
| Lord Bates, an international development minister and former Conservative MP, was meant to be in the House of Lords chamber for the start of oral questions at 15:00 GMT. | Lord Bates, an international development minister and former Conservative MP, was meant to be in the House of Lords chamber for the start of oral questions at 15:00 GMT. |
| Puzzled looks | Puzzled looks |
| His frontbench colleague, Lord Taylor, appeared to be caught off guard at having to answer the question in his absence. | His frontbench colleague, Lord Taylor, appeared to be caught off guard at having to answer the question in his absence. |
| Lord Bates turned up towards the end of the half hour session and stood at the despatch box to deliver his apology. | Lord Bates turned up towards the end of the half hour session and stood at the despatch box to deliver his apology. |
| "During the five years it's been my privilege to answer questions from this despatch box on behalf of the government," he told peers. | "During the five years it's been my privilege to answer questions from this despatch box on behalf of the government," he told peers. |
| "I've always believed we should offer, rise, to the highest possible standards of courtesy and respect in responding on behalf of the government to the legitimate questions of the legislature. | "I've always believed we should offer, rise, to the highest possible standards of courtesy and respect in responding on behalf of the government to the legitimate questions of the legislature. |
| "I'm thoroughly ashamed of not being in my place and therefore I shall be offering my resignation to the prime minister with immediate effect. I do apologise." | "I'm thoroughly ashamed of not being in my place and therefore I shall be offering my resignation to the prime minister with immediate effect. I do apologise." |
| Peers cried "no" as he walked past them on his way out of the chamber, leaving puzzled looks in his wake. | Peers cried "no" as he walked past them on his way out of the chamber, leaving puzzled looks in his wake. |
| 'Minor discourtesy' | 'Minor discourtesy' |
| Baroness Smith, Labour's leader in the Lords, said, to cries of "hear, hear": "An apology from the noble Lord Bates is perfectly sufficient. | Baroness Smith, Labour's leader in the Lords, said, to cries of "hear, hear": "An apology from the noble Lord Bates is perfectly sufficient. |
| "It was a minor discourtesy of which any of us could be guilty of on occasion." | "It was a minor discourtesy of which any of us could be guilty of on occasion." |
| Lord Hague, who was next to speak as proceedings moved on to debate on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, told peers: "I was going to say it was a pleasure to open this debate. | Lord Hague, who was next to speak as proceedings moved on to debate on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, told peers: "I was going to say it was a pleasure to open this debate. |
| "I hope my noble friend, who has given 20 years of strong public service, will resume his place on the frontbench." | "I hope my noble friend, who has given 20 years of strong public service, will resume his place on the frontbench." |
| Conservative whips are understood to be speaking to Lord Bates in an effort to get him to remain in his post. | Conservative whips are understood to be speaking to Lord Bates in an effort to get him to remain in his post. |
| Lords' proceedings started earlier than normal on Wednesday, to allow more time for debate on the EU bill, which may explain Lord Bates' late arrival. | Lords' proceedings started earlier than normal on Wednesday, to allow more time for debate on the EU bill, which may explain Lord Bates' late arrival. |
| Lord Bates returned to government in October 2016, after quitting as a Home Office minister earlier that year to take part in a charity trek across South America. | Lord Bates returned to government in October 2016, after quitting as a Home Office minister earlier that year to take part in a charity trek across South America. |
| He walked almost 2,000 miles from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro raising more than £260,000 for children's charity Unicef. | He walked almost 2,000 miles from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro raising more than £260,000 for children's charity Unicef. |