Despite the ongoing debate around the leadership of The Prime Minister, I continue to discharge my ministerial responsibilities as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Vaccines and Public Health. This because of my overriding duty to the country, against the backdrop of increasing prevalence of COVID-19 and the need for continuity of our public health measures.

Cabinet government is one of the cornerstones of our great democracy and history shows us that The Office of Prime Minister is bigger than one person - man or woman.

Given the state of paralysis that now exists within Her Majesty’s Government, it is right that The Prime Minister has listened to the advice of colleagues, and has signalled his intention to make way for a new leader who can once again drive forward our ambitious agenda to level-up the country and get on with the job of tackling the challenges that lie ahead.

It remains an immense privilege to lead our COVID vaccination programme and to serve as the Vaccines and Public Health Minister, something which I will continue to do to the best of my ability.

Maggie Throup MP - Member of Parliament for Erewash