AN Oxfordshire MP has quit his role in the Department of Education following resignations from the Health Secretary and Chancellor yesterday.
David Johnston, who represents Wantage and Didcot in the House of Commons, quit as a ministerial aide in the Department for Education.
In a statement on Facebook, he said: "As most of you will know, education is a great passion of mine and I very much enjoyed working with Nadhim Zahawi and the ministerial team, but I cannot defend what has taken place these past few days – or indeed these past few months.
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"When I decided to move from being a charity chief executive to becoming an MP in 2019, most of my family and friends thought I was mad to do so.
"They are interested in politics and know how much it matters, but they wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole due to the hours, the abuse and the low regard in which many in the public – wrongly in my view – hold politicians.
"I have said in the House of Commons and elsewhere that as elected politicians we are the custodians of politics.
"We should uphold the highest standards and act in a way that is best for the country.
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"We should also consider the politicians who will come after us. It is very important to me that we do all we can to encourage good people into politics so that the country is well served, but events in recent months have made the view of politics and politicians worse and will only put more people off entering it, which I deeply regret.
"I know from my inbox that there are different views about the Prime Minister, but I do not believe he can provide the leadership the country needs. I hope those who disagree with this nonetheless understand why I have taken the decision I have. As ever, my main focus will remain trying to be as good a constituency MP as I can be."
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This story was written by Anna Colivicchi, she joined the team this year and covers health stories for the Oxfordshire papers.
Get in touch with her by emailing: Anna.colivicchi@newsquest.co.uk
Follow her on Twitter @AnnaColivicchi
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