Blow for Rishi Sunak as Tory rising star quits forcing second reshuffle

Dehenna Davison says people should be ‘proud’ of UK’s exports

Rishi Sunak has had to perform a second reshuffle in a fortnight today, after the surprise resignation of a top Red Wall MP.

Dehenna Davison, who was elected as the MP for the county Durham seat of Bishop Aukland in Boris Johnson’s 2019 landslide, was seen as the poster girl for levelling up when elected.

After years as a talking head on GB News, she was finally promoted to a key ministerial role in the Department for Levelling Up by Rishi Sunak in September last year.

However, just one year later, she announced her resignation this morning to the shock of many Westminster observers.

Ms Davison, who is standing down next year after just five years as an MP, cited an ongoing health battle with migraines.

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In her resignation letter, the minister said it had been an “immense privilege” to serve and was sad at having to depart.

She said: “For some time now I have been battling with chronic migraine, which has had a great impact on my ability to carry out the role.

“Some days I’m fine, but on others it is difficult if not impossible, to keep up with the demand of ministerial life – and the timing of such days is never predictable.

“Though I have tried to mitigate, and am grateful to colleagues for their patience at times, I don’t feel it is right to continue in the role.

“At such a critical time for levelling up, I believe the people of communities like mine, and across the country, deserve a minister who can give the job the energy it needs.”

In her resignation letter, the minister said it had been an “immense privilege” to serve and was sad at having to depart.

She said: “For some time now I have been battling with chronic migraine, which has had a great impact on my ability to carry out the role.

“Some days I’m fine, but on others it is difficult if not impossible, to keep up with the demand of ministerial life – and the timing of such days in never predictable.

“Though I have tried to mitigate, and am grateful to colleagues for their patience at times, I don’t feel it is right to continue in the role.

“At such a critical time for levelling up, I believe the people of communities like mine, and across the country, deserve a minister who can give the job the energy it needs.”

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Mr Sunak was forced to carry out another minor reshuffle, despite hoping to hold a much larger one later this year.

One of Ms Davison’s fellow 2019 Red Wall intake has been promoted in her place – Jacob Young.

Mr Young was elected to the seat of Redcar in Teesside and has been a strong advocate of Mr Sunak’s since his election, backing him in last summer’s leadership election against Liz Truss.

After being elected to his seat on one of the largest seat swings seen at the General Election, Mr Young has served as a junior Government Whip since September last year.

Gagan Mohindra, the MP for South West Hertfordshire since 2019, has been promoted to replace Mr Young as a Government Whip.

Mr Sunak was forced to carry out another minor reshuffle, despite hoping to hold a much larger one later this year.

One of Ms Davison’s fellow 2019 Red Wall intake has been promoted in her place – Jacob Young.

Mr Young was elected to the seat of Redcar in Teesside and has been a strong advocate of Mr Sunak’s since his election, backing him in last summer’s leadership election against Liz Truss.

After being elected to his seat on one of the largest seat swings seen at the General Election, Mr Young has served as a junior Government Whip since September last year.

Gagan Mohindra, the MP for South West Hertfordshire since 2019, has been promoted to replace Mr Young as a Government Whip.

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