Crispin Blunt

Conservative Party | Reigate

Crispin Blunt MP - PRESS STATEMENT

Crispin Blunt MP has resigned today as an Opposition Whip. He issued the following statement:

Yesterday it became clear that Sir Malcolm Rifkind will in all probability stand for the leadership of the Conservative Party later in the year. Following my four years as Malcolm Rifkind’s Special Adviser when he was Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary my personal and professional respect for Sir Malcolm is well known. In any leadership contest it is necessary that the Whips’ Office remains publicly neutral regardless of the private views of individual members of that Office. Given my views and what are correctly assumed to be my views about the merits of Malcolm Rifkind as a potential leader of the Conservative Party I do not feel I could continue as an Opposition Whip without compromising the neutrality of the Office. I have therefore, today, tendered my resignation to the Chief Whip, Rt Hon David Maclean MP.

I have greatly enjoyed my time as a whip since my re-appointment to the front bench last year. It has been an enormous pleasure working in a team at the centre of the Parliamentary Party that has been lead with such energy and enthusiasm by David Maclean.