MIDDLESBROUGH'S MP Andy McDonald has resigned from the Shadow Cabinet.
He resigned from the Shadow Secretary of State for Employment Rights and Protections during a Labour Party conference.
In a letter to Keir Starmer leader of the Labour Party he said: "It is with deep sadness that I am tendering my resignation from the Shadow Cabinet.
"My role as Shadow Secretary of State for Employment Rights and Protections has become untenable.
Read more: Andy McDonald: How Labour can win in the North East again
"When you became leader, I accepted the role because I wanted to fight for the working people of this country. It has become clear to me that I cannot do this as a member of the Shadow Cabinet.
"Yesterday, your office instructed me to go into a meeting to argue against a national minimum wage of £15 an hour and against Statutory Sick Pay at the living wage. This is something I could not do."
It is with deep sadness that I have resigned from Keir Starmer’s Shadow Cabinet, following the leadership’s refusal to back a £15 minimum wage and statutory sick pay at the living wage. pic.twitter.com/dz1KQTj0qR
— Andy McDonald MP 💙 (@AndyMcDonaldMP) September 27, 2021
The letter went onto say: "After eighteen months of your leadership, our movement is more divided than ever and the pledges that you made to the membership are not being honoured."
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