Norwich MP Chloe Smith Resigns From Cabinet Office Position

6 October 2013, 22:39 | Updated: 6 October 2013, 22:59

Norwich North MP Chloe Smith has announced she is to stand down as minister.

She has a ministerial post in the Cabinet Office and says the move is so that she can concentrate on working in her constituency in Norwich.

A statement on Chloe Smith's website says: "I wrote to the Prime Minister on the 19th of September to explain my decision, and that I intended to serve until the next reshuffle. He has thanked me for my three years of service as a Minister and given me his best wishes. In his letter, he thanked me for helping achieve “fundamental and lasting efficiencies” totaling £10bn of savings for the taxpayer last year.

"I am proud to have served my country in this way but my constituents have always come first for me. They know the high standards and the hard work that I ask of myself as their MP.

"I was only 27 when I was lucky enough to be elected to Parliament and I want to use this experience to communicate with a new generation of younger voters about public participation and the Conservative message.

"As an elected Conservative Member of Parliament the Prime Minister and my party have my full support as we continue to fix the economy, reward hard work and do the right thing for Britain."

Fellow Conservative MP Therese Coffey, the MP for Suffolk Coastal tweeted: "Sad to see @ChloeSmithMP  step down but will go even quicker to get Norwich in 90!"

George Freeman, MP for Mid Norfolk put on Twitter: "Salute @ChloeSmithMP for brave decision to resign and focus on Norwich North constituency + her trailblazing work on youth unemployment."

Labour MEP for the region Richard Howitt tweeted his thoughts on the move too: "So #Norwich North Tory MP jumps before she was pushed. Her ministerial career ends. We'll end her parliamentary career at the next election."