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 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44833946
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Minister Andrew Griffiths resigns over texts to women | Minister Andrew Griffiths resigns over texts to women |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The minister for small business, Andrew Griffiths, has resigned from the government after sending text messages of a sexual nature to two female constituents. | The minister for small business, Andrew Griffiths, has resigned from the government after sending text messages of a sexual nature to two female constituents. |
| The contents of the texts will be revealed in the Sunday Mirror. | The contents of the texts will be revealed in the Sunday Mirror. |
| Mr Griffiths, MP for Burton and Theresa May's former chief of staff, told the Mirror he was "deeply ashamed". | Mr Griffiths, MP for Burton and Theresa May's former chief of staff, told the Mirror he was "deeply ashamed". |
| His behaviour had caused "untold distress" to his wife and family to whom he "owed everything", he said. | His behaviour had caused "untold distress" to his wife and family to whom he "owed everything", he said. |
| He also apologised for the "deep embarrassment" caused to the prime minister and the government, in a statement made to the newspaper. | He also apologised for the "deep embarrassment" caused to the prime minister and the government, in a statement made to the newspaper. |
| He added that he has referred himself to the Conservative Party's Code of Conduct procedures following discussions with the chief whip. | He added that he has referred himself to the Conservative Party's Code of Conduct procedures following discussions with the chief whip. |
| BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said Mr Griffiths, who decided to resign on Friday night, "jumped before he was pushed". | BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said Mr Griffiths, who decided to resign on Friday night, "jumped before he was pushed". |
| The text messages were understood to be very damaging and contained offensive language, our correspondent added. | The text messages were understood to be very damaging and contained offensive language, our correspondent added. |
| Mr Griffiths, an MP since 2010, is very well known to the prime minister having been her chief of staff in opposition. | |
| He became a father in April when his wife gave birth to a baby girl. |