Human rights minister Baroness Warsi resigns from government over Gaza
Conservative human rights minister Sayeeda Warsi has resigned from the government over the Gaza conflict.
The Tory peer had attracted criticism in May this year for meeting with the Sultan of Brunei, but failing to raise his country’s new anti-gay law.
She had been Minister of State for Faith and Communities since 2012, while also holding a human rights brief within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The peer also apologised for issuing homophobic leaflets when she unsuccessfully stood as the MP for Dewsbury in 2005.
Despite previously indicating she would vote for same-sex marriage, Baroness Warsi abstained from the second reading vote in the House of Lords.
Resigning today, she tweeted: “With deep regret I have this morning written to the Prime Minister & tendered my resignation. I can no longer support Govt policy on #Gaza.”
With deep regret I have this morning written to the Prime Minister & tendered my resignation. I can no longer support Govt policy on #Gaza
— Sayeeda Warsi (@SayeedaWarsi) August 5, 2014
She wrote in her resignation letter: “As the minister with responsibility for… human rights I believe our approach in relation to the current conflict is neither consistent with our values, specifically our commitment to the rule of law and our long history of support for International Justice.
“Eric Pickles has supported me tirelessly in our work on combating hate crime, challenging anti-Semitism and Islamaphobia and the pioneering work of celebrating faith in the public sphere.
“Early evidence from the Home Office and others shows that the fallout of the current conflict and the potential for the crisis in Gaza and our response to it becoming a basis for radicalisation could have consequences for years to come.
“It is therefore with regret that I am writing to resign.”
