NORTH WILTSHIRE MP James Gray has resigned from his job of Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland after only a week.
Mr Gray handed in his resignation to Tory leader Michael Howard yesterday after sparking a major rift with Conservative colleagues north of the border.
The Glasgow-born MP was condemned after suggesting MSPs being elected to the Scottish Parliament should be abolished. He suggested the 59 Scottish MPs could sit in Scotland for two days a week and then take part in Westminster debates during the rest of the week. This is a u-turn in official Tory policy, which is to support both the Scottish Parliament and its MSPs.
Mr Gray, appointed on May 11, has long been a critic of the West Lothian question, which sees Scottish MPs allowed to vote on purely English matters.
"The Scottish Conservative Party seems to be of the view that this caused them embarrassment I did not want to do that. Rather than cause Michael Howard any embarrassment I have offered him my resignation."
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