David has been readmitted to hospital and has asked his office to release the following statement from him on Boris Johnson's resignation today:
“Boris Johnson’s tenure as party leader has become unsupportable, and he has made the right choice to resign.
I hope that the Conservative Party leadership election will be concluded swiftly, so we can get on with the job of delivering the levelling up agenda that the country voted for so decisively in 2019.
I continue to believe that we must not allow ourselves to be distracted from the difficult challenges the country faces.
As soon as possible, I want us to return to building on the Government’s legacy to crystallize efforts to support the livelihoods of people right across our constituency - including Somerton, Frome, Martock, Bruton, Castle Cary, Wincanton and Langport – that are under severe strain from the global cost of living crisis.
But this can only be delivered with the fresh insight that comes from new leadership.
When I return to the Conservative benches, I look forward to supporting the next Conservative Party leader to do just that.”