“I was proud to play a role in fighting Tory austerity… and I will continue to serve Labour” – Conor McGinn on why he quit

Conor McGinn, who resigned from the Labour whips office today along with Holly Lynch, published this statement on his website.

Earlier today I spoke with the new Chief Whip Nick Brown. I am very grateful to Nick for offering me the opportunity to stay in his Whips Office, but I explained to him that I felt it was the right time for me to leave the frontbench at this reshuffle to concentrate on my constituency responsibilities and my young family.

Nick was courteous and understanding in accepting my resignation. He and the new Whips Office have my very best wishes.

It has been an honour to serve as an Opposition Whip since last September. As Labour’s Treasury and Cabinet Office Whip, I was proud to play a role in holding the Tory Government to account and challenging its policies of austerity and division.

I would like to thank Rosie Winterton, who has been an outstanding Chief Whip, and all my colleagues in the Whips Office for their friendship, guidance and support.

I will continue to diligently represent St Helens North and loyally serve the Labour Party from the backbenches.