Labour reshuffle fallout: Read Shadow Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty resignation letter

Dear Jeremy,

Our party has always been a broad church, and despite my principled differences with you over many issues of defence, foreign policy and national security, I agreed to serve on your front bench because of the mandate you were given, the assurances that honesty and difference were welcomed, and due to the many areas we agreed wholeheartedly on such as fighting the vicious Tory trade union bill - which I was proud to lead our work on - cuts to tax credits and tackling climate change.

I was therefore dismayed that two of our most able and experienced colleagues have been sacked for speaking out in the straight talking and honest way that I believe the public expect and want from their representatives - let alone when it comes to matters of national security. I agree entirely with the words Pat McFadden used in denouncing terrorism and the false narrative that the West is to blame, and so I believe the only honourable thing for me to do, when a fellow team member has been singled out for punishment for speaking with honesty and principle on this critical issue, is to leave the front bench.

You and your team will continue to enjoy my full support from the back-benches in taking on this uncaring and brutal Tory government - but we need to urgently recognise and re-affirm as a Labour Party that the national security and defence of our country in such a volatile world, is a red line and a matter that should and must transcend party politics, let alone the internal machinations of our own party or personal score-settling.

Yours sincerely,

Stephen Doughty MP