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Foreign Office minister Mark Simmonds resigns Foreign Office minister Mark Simmonds resigns
(35 minutes later)
Junior Foreign Office minister Mark Simmonds has resigned from the government, Downing Street says. Foreign Office minister Mark Simmonds has resigned from the government, the second to depart in less than a week.
No 10 says he will be replaced as minister with responsibility for Africa by James Duddridge. No 10 said Mr Simmonds made the decision "several weeks ago" and said it was unrelated to the events in Gaza which led to Baroness Warsi quitting.
The PM's spokeswoman said he made the decision to step down on 4 August and it was unrelated to events in Gaza. Mr Simmonds has also said he will step down as MP for Boston and Skegness at the general election next year.
Mr Simmonds has written to Mr Cameron saying he has decided not to stand in his Boston and Skegness seat at the general election next year. Downing Street has announced that James Duddridge will replace Mr Simmonds as minister for Africa.
No 10 says the PM was told of his decision several weeks ago and that this was unrelated to Philip Hammond's appointment as foreign secretary. The prime minister's spokesman said Mr Simmonds had stayed on in the job after announcing his intention to step down, to chair meetings at the UN on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Downing Street also said Mr Simmonds had stayed on for several days extra to chair meetings at the UN related to his Africa work. In his resignation letter, dated 4 August, Mr Simmonds told Mr Cameron he would "remain supportive of you, your government and the Conservative Party".
Mark Simmonds is the second minister to resign from the Foreign Office in the last week. In a separate statement to constituents, he said that "despite the enjoyment and personal fulfilment I have found in this role, the lack of support available to MPs with families outside of London and the sacrifice to my family life, has become intolerable".
Fellow Foreign Office minister Baroness Warsi resigned last Tuesday in protest at the government's policy on Gaza. "At this stage, I need to focus on providing for my family."
Of his ministerial role, he said: "I am proud of the work I have been able to carry out during my time at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, enabling and encouraging greater UK Africa Trade and Investment, where huge opportunities exist; ensuring that UK diplomacy contributes to security in the UK and stability in Africa.
"As well as enhancing the partnership between the UK and the Overseas Territories and nurturing our all-important international energy relationships. I am also grateful to the prime minister for allowing me to chair the UN Security Council as one of my last acts as a minister."
In his reply to the resignation letter, Mr Cameron said Mr Simmonds had been a "good friend" and still had "much more to give".
Baroness Warsi resigned as a Foreign Office minister on 5 August, saying the UK's policy on the crisis in Gaza was "morally indefensible".