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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Maria Miller resigns as culture secretary over expenses row | Maria Miller resigns as culture secretary over expenses row |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Maria Miller has resigned as culture secretary over the controversy over her expenses. | Maria Miller has resigned as culture secretary over the controversy over her expenses. |
| In a letter to the prime minister, David Cameron, Miller said the controversy | In a letter to the prime minister, David Cameron, Miller said the controversy |
| over her expenses had "become a distraction from the vital work this government is doing". | over her expenses had "become a distraction from the vital work this government is doing". |
| On Tuesday night, Miller launched a desperate fightback against growing pressure to resign, as | On Tuesday night, Miller launched a desperate fightback against growing pressure to resign, as |
| one of her aides canvassed backbenchers for support and then toured TV | one of her aides canvassed backbenchers for support and then toured TV |
| studios to accuse the media of whipping up the row over her expenses in | studios to accuse the media of whipping up the row over her expenses in |
| revenge for press regulation and gay marriage. | revenge for press regulation and gay marriage. |
| But on Wednesday morning, with the row entering its seventh day, her resignation was accepted by Cameron, who told Miller he was sad at the circumstances of her departure and hoped she could make a return "in due course". | But on Wednesday morning, with the row entering its seventh day, her resignation was accepted by Cameron, who told Miller he was sad at the circumstances of her departure and hoped she could make a return "in due course". |
| Her departure follows days of mounting public and political pressure on the MP to | Her departure follows days of mounting public and political pressure on the MP to |
| quit amid signs she was losing support among Tory colleagues despite Cameron's backing. | quit amid signs she was losing support among Tory colleagues despite Cameron's backing. |
| In her resignation letter, the Basingstoke MP told Cameron she was "very grateful" for his personal support. | |
| "But it has become clear to me that the present situation has become | |
| a distraction from the vital work this government is doing to turn our | |
| country around," she added. | |
| She defended her work on press regulation - which allies have suggested has resulted in a media "witch hunt" against her. | |
| "Of course, implementing the recommendations made by Lord Justice | |
| Leveson on the future of media regulation, following the phone hacking | |
| scandals, would always be controversial for the press," she wrote. | |
| "Working together with you, I believe we struck the right balance | |
| between protecting the freedom of the press and ensuring fairness, | |
| particularly for victims of press intrusion, to have a clear right of | |
| redress." | |
| Cameron told her it was "important to be clear that the Committee | |
| on Standards cleared you of the unfounded allegations made against you, | |
| a point which has been lost in much of the comment in recent days". | |
| The standards committee ordered her to repay £5,800 in overclaimed | |
| mortgage interest and say sorry on the floor of the House - an apology | |
| which has been widely criticised for its tone and brevity. | |
| Cameron wrote he was "personally very grateful for the support you have always given me, and which I am sure that you will continue to give". | |
| Maria Miller's letter of resignation | Maria Miller's letter of resignation |
| 9 April 2014 | 9 April 2014 |
| Dear Prime Minister | Dear Prime Minister |
| It is with great regret that I have decided that I should tender my resignation as a member of the Cabinet. | It is with great regret that I have decided that I should tender my resignation as a member of the Cabinet. |
| I am very grateful to you for your personal support but it has | I am very grateful to you for your personal support but it has |
| become clear to me that the present situation has become a distraction | become clear to me that the present situation has become a distraction |
| from the vital work this Government is doing to turn our country around. | from the vital work this Government is doing to turn our country around. |
| I have been a member of the Conservative Party for more than 30 | I have been a member of the Conservative Party for more than 30 |
| years. As a working mother, educated at a South Wales comprehensive | years. As a working mother, educated at a South Wales comprehensive |
| school, I know that it is our party that understands the importance of | school, I know that it is our party that understands the importance of |
| giving everyone the opportunity to succeed regardless of where they come | giving everyone the opportunity to succeed regardless of where they come |
| from. | from. |
| I am immensely proud of what my team have been able to achieve | I am immensely proud of what my team have been able to achieve |
| during my time in Government: ensuring that our arts and cultural | during my time in Government: ensuring that our arts and cultural |
| institutions receive the rightful recognition that they deserve in | institutions receive the rightful recognition that they deserve in |
| making Britain Great; putting women front and centre of every aspect of | making Britain Great; putting women front and centre of every aspect of |
| DCMS's work; putting in place the legislation to enable all couples to | DCMS's work; putting in place the legislation to enable all couples to |
| have the opportunity to marry regardless of their sexuality. | have the opportunity to marry regardless of their sexuality. |
| Of course, implementing the recommendations made by Lord Justice | Of course, implementing the recommendations made by Lord Justice |
| Leveson on the future of media regulation, following the phone hacking | Leveson on the future of media regulation, following the phone hacking |
| scandals, would always be controversial for the press. Working together | scandals, would always be controversial for the press. Working together |
| with you, I believe we struck the right balance between protecting the | with you, I believe we struck the right balance between protecting the |
| freedom of the press and ensuring fairness, particularly for victims of | freedom of the press and ensuring fairness, particularly for victims of |
| press intrusion to have a clear right of redress. | press intrusion to have a clear right of redress. |
| I will continue to support you and the work of the Government as you | I will continue to support you and the work of the Government as you |
| move forward. Ensuring the best future for the people of Basingstoke | move forward. Ensuring the best future for the people of Basingstoke |
| has been my priority throughout the last nine years. Whether on the | has been my priority throughout the last nine years. Whether on the |
| front or back benches of the House of Commons I will continue this work. | front or back benches of the House of Commons I will continue this work. |
| The only reason I was able to become an MP and indeed a government | The only reason I was able to become an MP and indeed a government |
| minister and cabinet minister is because of the unstinting support of my | minister and cabinet minister is because of the unstinting support of my |
| husband, my mother, my father and my three children. I owe them all a | husband, my mother, my father and my three children. I owe them all a |
| great deal. | great deal. |
| Maria Miller | Maria Miller |
| David Cameron's reply to Maria Miller | David Cameron's reply to Maria Miller |
| 9 April 2014 | 9 April 2014 |
| Dear Maria | Dear Maria |
| Thank you for your letter. I was very sorry to receive it. | Thank you for your letter. I was very sorry to receive it. |
| I think it is important to be clear that the Committee on Standards | I think it is important to be clear that the Committee on Standards |
| cleared you of the unfounded allegations made against you, a point which | cleared you of the unfounded allegations made against you, a point which |
| has been lost in much of the comment in recent days. | has been lost in much of the comment in recent days. |
| You can be extremely proud of your work in Government – as Secretary | You can be extremely proud of your work in Government – as Secretary |
| of State for Culture, Media and Sport, as Minister for Women and as | of State for Culture, Media and Sport, as Minister for Women and as |
| Minister for Disabled People. | Minister for Disabled People. |
| You have been responsible for successfully handling two of the most | You have been responsible for successfully handling two of the most |
| controversial issues with which this Government has dealt. | controversial issues with which this Government has dealt. |
| As Culture | As Culture |
| Secretary, you have played a critical role in advancing Britain's proud | Secretary, you have played a critical role in advancing Britain's proud |
| record of respect and equality in piloting the Equal Marriage Act | record of respect and equality in piloting the Equal Marriage Act |
| through Parliament and onto the Statute Book. There are many people in | through Parliament and onto the Statute Book. There are many people in |
| our country today, and there will be many in the future, who will always | our country today, and there will be many in the future, who will always |
| be grateful for this very important change, which you did so much to | be grateful for this very important change, which you did so much to |
| bring about. You have also handled the sensitive subject of press | bring about. You have also handled the sensitive subject of press |
| regulation with skill and dedication. | regulation with skill and dedication. |
| You can be very proud as well that you have led one of the most | You can be very proud as well that you have led one of the most |
| important infrastructure projects: many more premises are now able to | important infrastructure projects: many more premises are now able to |
| access super-fast broadband . You have also ensured a lasting legacy for | access super-fast broadband . You have also ensured a lasting legacy for |
| the Olympic Games. | the Olympic Games. |
| As you leave the Government, you should be proud of your service on the Frontbench and in Opposition. | As you leave the Government, you should be proud of your service on the Frontbench and in Opposition. |
| I am personally very grateful for the support you have always given | I am personally very grateful for the support you have always given |
| me, and which I am sure that you will continue to give. I hope that you | me, and which I am sure that you will continue to give. I hope that you |
| will be able to return to serving the Government on the Frontbench in | will be able to return to serving the Government on the Frontbench in |
| due course, and am only sad that you are leaving the Government in these | due course, and am only sad that you are leaving the Government in these |
| circumstances. | circumstances. |
| David Cameron | David Cameron |