Stephen Doughty
Shadow foreign minister Stephen Doughty quit live on the Daily Politics show BBC

Shadow Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty has become the latest Labour MP to quit in the wake of the Cabinet reshuffle, announcing his intention to resign live on TV. Doughty, MP for Cardiff and Penarth, told BBC's Daily Politics his decision is down to disagreements with Jeremy Corbyn over a number of issues, including foreign policy and national security.

Doughty's resignation arrived shortly after shadow rail minister Jonathan Reynolds announced it would be best to "serve the party as a backbencher" following arguments with Corbyn over the sacking of European spokesman Pat McFadden during the "revenge reshuffle", adding he had been "singled out for punishment for speaking with honesty and principle".

Speaking on the Daily Politics, Doughty also revealed he disagreed with Corbyn's decision to remove McFadden from his shadow cabinet. He said: "I had very well-publicised differences with him on foreign policy and defence and national security, but I recognised the mandate that Jeremy had been given by the party. And I also have areas where I whole-heartedly agree with him.

"On tax credits, climate change, fighting the Trade Union Bill, I was happy to lead that work. But fundamentally I agree with everything Pat McFadden said about terrorism and national security.

"And about not being seen to develop a narrative that this is somehow the West that is responsible. I have to examine my own conscience when an individual like that has been singled out for a sacking for words I completely agree with. I think it's the only honourable thing for me to do to also tender my resignation."

Doughty added there had been "pretty unpleasant operations" regarding some MPs who have been loyal to Labour in the days surrounding current reshuffle and he had seen some "extremely regrettable" behaviour from within the party.

It is believed McFadden was sacked for suggesting the West were not to blame to for terrorist attacks that occurred in Paris and Beruit.

Doughty's 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 Stephen Doughty MP

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