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."

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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