Government minister offers resignation from Lords after apologising for being late

A Government minister stunned colleagues by offering his resignation at the despatch box, telling the House of Lords he was “thoroughly ashamed” for arriving late.

International development minister Lord Bates dramatically walked straight out of the chamber after pledging to would quit for “failing to be in his place to respond to a question from a peer”.

However, he is set to remain on the frontbench after Theresa May rejected his offer to step down. Downing Street said the Prime Minister deemed his resignation “unnecessary”.

Lord Bates had been listed to answer a question from Labour peer Baroness Lister of Burtersett but arrived late for the session.

In his absence, Lord Taylor responded to questions at the start of proceedings but appeared to have been unprepared.

Lord Bates said: “With the leave of the House I wonder if you would permit me to offer my sincere apologies to Baroness Lister for my discourtesy for not being in my place to answer her question on a very important matter at the beginning of questions.

“During the five years of which it has been my privilege to answer questions from the despatch box on behalf of the Government I have always believed we should rise to the highest possible standards of courtesy and respect in responding on behalf of the Government to legitimate questions of the legislature.

“I am thoroughly ashamed at not being in my place. I therefore shall be offering my resignation.”

He walked straight out of the chamber after offering his resignation to cries of “no” from others peers.

Downing Street said Ms May, who is on a trade visit to China, had refused Lord Bates’ resignation.

A spokesman said: “With typical sincerity, Lord Bates today offered to tender his resignation after missing the start of an Oral Questions session in the House of Lords, but his resignation was refused as it was judged this was unnecessary.

“As a hard-working and diligent minister, it is typical of his approach that he takes his responsibilities to Parliament so seriously. He has received support from across the House and we are pleased that he has decided to continue in his important roles at the Department for International Development and HM Treasury.”

Opposition leader in the Lords, Baroness Smith of Basildon, had sought to reassure the peer after his departure, saying: “An apology is sufficient for a minor discourtesy.”

Lord Taylor had clearly been caught off guard at having to respond to questions from peers in the absence of Lord Bates. While attempting to respond to questions, it was obvious to onlookers he was ill-prepared, leaving some peers looking perplexed by his answers.

Former Foreign Secretary Lord Hague of Richmond appeared bemused as he prepared to open the afternoon session following Lord Bates’s exit on day two of the marathon second reading of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill.

Lord Hague told peers: “I was going to say it was a pleasure to open this debate.”

He added: “I hope my noble friend, who has given 20 years of strong public service, will resume his place on the frontbench.”

Lord Bates had returned to government in October 2016 after quitting as Home Office minister in 2016 to take part in a charity trek across South America.

He walked almost 2,000 miles from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro raising more than £260,000 for children’s charity Unicef.