Sir Alan Duncan resigns from government to be able to request no confidence motion in the next British PM
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Sir Alan Duncan resigned so that he could request a confidence motion in the next Prime Minister before he took office, but it was rejected by the Speaker.
In an unprecedented move Sir Alan submitted an application for emergency debate on the motion “that this house has considered the merits of the newly chosen Leader of the Conservative Party, and supports his wish to form a government”.
However John Bercow turned down the motion, which if it had gone ahead would have been debated before the new Prime Minister took office.
In an accompanying letter to his motion, Sir Alan says: “My reason for doing so is that this is the first time in our parliamentary history that the Prime Minister of a minority government has changed in mid-term.
“Thus the normal assumption that the succession is automatic cannot be said to apply, and his ability to command a majority in the House should arguably be tested before the Prime Minister can safely advise the Queen who should succeed her.
He adds: “I hope you concur that in these circumstances, it is indeed a matter or urgency.”
Sir Alan announced his resignation as a foreign office minister earlier today as he said Brexit has cast a “dark cloud” over the UK.
