Labour’s Stephen Doughty resigns as shadow minister on live TV
Labour MP Stephen Doughty has quit as a shadow minister – on live TV.
Mr Doughty, the MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, was appointed as a shadow Foreign Minister by Jeremy Corbyn in October 2015.
However, four months later he has stepped down on live TV – after controversy within the party over a reshuffle.
The MP was one of a number of openly LGB politicians in Labour’s shadow team – alongside Shadow Commons Leader Chris Bryant, and First Secretary of State Angela Eagle.
But Mr Doughty quit during a live TV interview on the Daily Politics show – claiming he couldn’t continue “in good conscience” as a minister.
He said: “I’ve just written to Jeremy Corbyn to resign from the frontbench.
“I agreed to serve on Jeremy’s frontbench for a number of reasons. I had well publicised differences with him on foreign policy and national security… but I recognised the mandate that Jeremy had been given by the party.
“Fundamentally, when an individual like [Europe minister Pat McFadden] has been singled out for a sacking over words I completely agree with, I think it’s only the honourable thing for me to do to tender my resignation.”
Mr McFadden claims he was sacked over comments about terrorism, while Mr Corbyn’s office says he was removed for failing to be loyal to the party leadership.
A number of other shadow ministers have also resigned, including Kevan Jones and Jonathan Reynolds.
Away from politics, Mr Doughty was a founding member of Oxford singing group Out of the Blue – who have since become renowned for their camp covers of songs.
The group recently launched an exceedingly homoerotic cover of ‘Santa Baby’… and all in the name of charity.
