East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds has become the latest minister to resign from Boris Johnson’s government on Thursday morning.

Mr Hinds announced he had written to the Prime Minister standing down as security minister at 7.15am, citing a “serious erosion” of standards in public life under Mr Johnson.

He said: “It shouldn’t take the resignation of dozens of colleagues, but for our country, and trust in our democracy, we must have a change of leadership.”

Mr Hinds, who also served in cabinet as education secretary under Theresa May, also thanked Mr Johnson for asking him to return to government as security minister, which he added has been a “particular privilege”.

His resignation letter in full:

Dear Prime Minister,

With regret, I must resign from the government.

I was grateful to you for asking me to return as security minister last year. It has been a particular privilege to serve in this role, and to have the opportunity, alongside dedicated officials, to support those working tirelessly to keep out country safe. There are important work streams progress and I much regret leaving while these are yet to be seen through to their conclusion. I wish the next security minister well with delivering into law the National Security bill, the second Economic Crime bill, and the Protect Duty bill; and in bringing the counter-fraud strategy.

As Prime Minister you have great achievements to your name, not least your leadership in delivering out world-leading vaccination programme, and our support to the people of Ukraine in the face of Putin’s brutality. But more important than any government or leaders are the standards we uphold in public life and faith in our democracy and public administration . Because of the serious erosion in these, I have come to the conclusion that the right thing for our country and for our party is for you to stand down as party leader and Prime Minister. I had hoped you would take this course sooner, of your own volition. But as it has become clear that you still intend to stay, I cannot continue to serve in your administration.

Yours,

Damian Hinds

MP for East Hampshire