Harrogate district MP Nigel Adams has resigned from the cabinet ahead of new Conservative Party leader Liz Truss becoming Prime Minister today.

Mr Adams was minister without portfolio in Boris Johnson's cabinet. In a letter to the outgoing PM he congratulated Ms Truss but wrote "it is important that a new PM is able to appoint a team based on who they want, rather than who they inherit".

During Mr Johnson's premiership, he was previously the minister for Asia.

The letter also praised Mr Johnson for breaking the "Brexit deadlock", delivering the covid vaccine rollout and supporting Ukraine following the Russian invasion.

The letter ended by saying "there has never been a dull moment and I am honoured to call you a friend."

Mr Adams was one of Mr Johnson's most trusted allies and there have been rumours that he will be rewarded for his loyalty with a peerage. It would trigger a by-election as MPs can not also sit in the House of Lords.

Other cabinet ministers Nadine Dorries and Priti Patel have also resigned from cabinet.

Mr Adams has been the Selby & Ainsty MP since 2010 and the constituency includes several villages in our district including Weeton, Huby, Spofforth and Kirkby Overblow.

The MP has already announced he plans to step down at the next general election.

Read more:

• Nigel Adams: By-election could be called amid peerage reports


• Harrogate district MP Nigel Adams to step down at next election