Two Conservative ministers have quit their Government posts today, forcing Rishi Sunak to reshuffle his top team. In a double blow to the Prime Minister, well-respected Skills Minister Robert Halfon unexpectedly resigned today while Armed Forces Minister James Heappey confirmed he was stepping down from the Ministry of Defence . He had revealed earlier this month that he would quit as an MP at the next election. Their departures leave gaps for the Prime Minister to fill in his increasingly threadbare top team as dozens of Tories turn their focus to life outside Parliament. More than 60 Conservatives have confirmed they plan to step down at the next
election where the party is facing wipe out. Mr Halfon, who has been MP for Harlow, Essex, since 1999, told the Prime Minister: "I feel that it is time for me to step down at the forthcoming General Election , and in doing so, to resign as a Minister in your Government." The veteran MP also served as a minister under
Theresa May before becoming Chairman of the Commons Education Committee. He was brought back into Government by Mr Sunak in October 2022. In his resignation letter, Mr Halfon said he would support the PM from the backbenches for the rest of his time as an MP - and said he believed the country had a "quiet admiration" for Mr Sunak's work ethic, integrity and problem solving skills. Full list of Tory MPs stepping down as party fears election wipeout under Rishi Sunak Tory MP Robert Halfon has stepped down as a minister ( Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images) Mr Heappey also confirmed his departure today after previously letting it be known that he was stepping down. In a thread posted to X, he wrote: "I've loved every minute as MinAF in this incredible department. Our Armed Forces & MoD civil servants are the very best of us. Representing them in Parliament & around the world over last 4.5 years has been an amazing privilege." The Wells MP served as Armed Forces Minister for four years and attracted rare praise from his
Labour opponents. Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey said yesterday: "Since the last election we've had: Five Chancellors, Four Foreign Secretaries, Three Prime Ministers, Two Defence Secretaries But only one Armed Forces Minister. He has been a rare constant in the turmoil of Government. Totally committed to defence and Labour thanks him for this." James Heappey has resigned as Armed Forces Minister ( Image: PA) Mr Heappey is likely to put pressure on the Prime Minister to increase defence spending during his remaining time in Parliament. On Monday, he told MPs: "2.5 per cent of GDP should be achieved urgently, the fiscal situation is improving and this party has made that commitment. Both parties should be strongly considering a further increase in defence spending in the next parliament." Robert Halfon's letter to the PM - in full "Almost twenty-four years ago, in November 1999, I was selected to be the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Harlow. It was a long road to getting elected; battling three General
elections to eventually win in 2010 with a majority of almost 5,000, increasing to over 14,000 over the past fourteen years. "As MP, I have done everything possible to work hard for Harlow. I have been honoured to have served as the Chair of the Education Select Committee, as Deputy Chairman of the Party, attend Cabinet, and most recently, under your premiership, be proudly appointed once again as the Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education. "I have also been incredibly proud to support you, and your administration's aims to build an apprenticeships and skills nation, building on my own personal passion for this ambition. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to bring through the Lifelong Learning Act which will revolutionise adult learning and education. Our Higher Education reforms will ensure that even more students can achieve good outcomes from their studies. In particular, our work on apprenticeships, skills, T-Levels, HTQs and the new Advanced
British Standard means that we will end the artificial divide between academic and technical education once and for all, ensuring many more young people today can access prestigious skills and vocational learning in a way they have never been able to in the past. "As the Minister, with your backing, we have seen funding for Degree Apprenticeships increase to £40 million, £50 million for apprenticeships in growth sectors and, last week, the £60 million to boost the take up of apprenticeships by small businesses, the Care Leaver Bursary increase from £1,000 to £3,000, and hundreds of millions of extra funding for our Further Education Colleges. Moreover, the Skills for Life work we have done to boost careers education in schools and colleges - creating a one-stop shop for advice and guidance, strengthening the Baker Clause, and partnering with UCAS to see them advertise apprenticeships alongside academic degrees - will bring the skills ladder of opportunity to many more students. I truly believe that our reforms are transforming standards in skills in the same way that the Conservatives have transformed standards in schools. "However, after well over two decades as the Harlow Parliamentary Candidate and as MP, I feel that it is time for me to step down at the forthcoming General Election, and in doing so, to resign as a Minister in your Government. I would like to thank the
Secretary of State for Education, Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP, who is a true believer and trailblazer in apprenticeships and boosting skills education, and especially to my private office team and the outstanding officials in the skills, apprenticeships and higher education teams at the DfE, for their tireless work to deliver a skills and apprenticeships nation. I believe that across the country, there is quiet admiration for your work ethic, integrity and ability to solve complex problems faced by our country. I look forward to continuing to wholeheartedly support you from the Backbenches in the weeks and months ahead, at the upcoming election, and of course, to spending my remaining time as an MP, championing Harlow." The PM's letter to Robert Halfon - in full "I was very sorry to hear of your decision to step down from Government, as well as your intention to stand down at the next election. I appreciate that your decision will not have been an easy one to make, but I respect your reasons for doing so. You have made an important contribution to our public life, spanning almost 25 years, starting from your selection as the parliamentary candidate for Harlow in 1999. Since that time, you have had a wide and varied career in Parliament, ranging from Chair of the Education Select Committee, Deputy Chairman of the Party, a Cabinet Minister and most recently as the Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education. Your unwavering support to our party, consecutive Conservative administrations and of course the people of Harlow is admirable. "I wanted to pay tribute to your greatest legacy in Parliament, which is of course your passion for promoting apprenticeships. You have been a stalwart champion for this remarkable and life changing programme, which is underpinned by our conservative principles to empower people to climb the ladder of opportunity. Throughout your time as a Minister, you have been a firm believer in ensuring that the opportunities for apprenticeships are available for all, no matter who you are. or where you come from. "On your watch, thousands more young people have started an apprenticeship, whilst supporting SMEs along the way through funding the cost of their training. This is a huge achievement for our Government, which you should be very proud of leading. Last year you took the Lifelong Loan Entitlement Bill through Parliament. This was a landmark piece of legislation brought through under your guidance, which will help to revolutionise the skills landscape and help people progress in their careers. Thanks to your efforts, from next year, students will be able to apply for a loan worth the equivalent of four years of post-18 education, which will allow adults to retrain and upskill later in life in a way that suits them whilst meeting the required demands. "Your understanding of the wide potential of apprenticeships is exceptional. You have rightly identified the importance of raising the skills level of the nation, as a crucial mechanism to boost economic growth. In doing so, you have promoted the Government's skills revolution with T Levels and higher technical qualifications, which has helped skilled workers, empowering people to climb the ladder of opportunity to progress in their careers. "You have also been an outstanding champion for promoting social mobility - advocating that there should be no barrier to anyone accessing the same opportunities as others. This can be seen through the launch of the disabled apprentice network in partnership with Disability Rights
UK to build a platform to attract and retain disabled candidates. "You have always led by example and I am aware that you were the first MP to employ an apprentice in your parliamentary office in 2010. Since then, many MPs have followed in your footsteps to realise the true scope of apprentices, employing them not just in Parliament, but advocating them to local businesses up and down the country. "Over the years, you have been a leading campaigner on a number of key issues - particularly fuel duty. No other Conservative has campaigned harder to freeze fuel duty. This is something you should be proud of - it has helped millions of motorists. I am proud that the Government I lead has not only frozen fuel duty, but cut it by 5 pence. "I know that the pcople of Harlow will be saddened to lose you as their MP, after years of loyal and selfless service. You have made an outstanding impact on bettering the lives of thousands of your constituents. Some of your key local achievements will be remembered for many years to come, including securing record investment to regenerate Harlow town centre, championing the local
economy by creating thousands of jobs and supporting the community during the pandemic. Thank you again for your service to our party and for everything you have done to deliver meaningful change. I wish you all the very best. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a Happy Easter." Join our FREE Mirror politics
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