Full ministerial resignation statement by Moray MP Douglas Ross; Mr Ross has left his post as Under Secretary of State for Scotland in protest over Dominic Cummings lockdown breach row
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MORAY MP Douglas Ross has just resigned as a UK government minister in protest over the handling of the Dominic Cummings lockdown breach row. This is his statement, in full:
"I have just tendered my resignation from the UK government and my position at Under Secretary of State for Scotland.
"Following my re-election as MP for Moray last December I was honoured to be asked by the Prime Minister to join his government and take on this role in the Scotland Office. It is a position I have relished and one I've committed to wholeheartedly since my appointment/ There was much I still hoped to do in this role but events over the last few days mean I can no longer serve as a member of this government.
"I have never met Dominic Cummings so my judgement on this matter has always been open and I accept his statement on Monday afternoon clarified the actions he took in what he felt were the best interests of his family. However, these were decisions many others felt were not available to them.
"As a father myself, my instinct is to always do what is best for my son and wife. We have been fortunate not to have caught this awful virus but if we did, we are prepared to follow the government advice and stay at home to contain the virus.
"While the intentions may have been well meaning, the reaction to this news shows that Mr Cummings' interpretations of the government advice was not shared by the vast majority of people who have done as the government asked.
"I have constituents who didn't get to say goodbye to loved ones; families who could not mourn together; people who didn't visit sick relatives because they followed thre guidance of the government. I cannot in good faith tell them they were all wrong and one senior advisor to the government was right.
"This is not a decision I have reached quickly. I have waited to hear all of the information and thought long and hard over this. I realise both the immediate and long-term implications of my decision to resign from government.
"While it has been a great privilege to serve as a Minister, my first duty is to be a representative and I feel I can best represent my Moray constituents and many across the country who have expressed their feelings about this by resigning as a Minister.
"I look forward to continuing to stand up for the people of Moray from the back benches."
