Minister resigns to push for fair trade
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.One of Gordon Brown's closest political allies resigned from the Government last night to launch a personal campaign to reform the EU's common agricultural policy.
Michael Wills, a junior Home Office minister, stood down from the position - which was unpaid - to press for developing countries to be given a bigger share of international agriculture markets.
The 51-year-old, who has five children, said he wanted to use the internet to help campaign for fair trade, but insisted that he was not stepping down in protest at government policy.
Mr Wills, a wealthy former television executive, is a close friend of the Chancellor and was a colleague of Peter Mandelson at London Weekend Television during the 1980s before setting up his own television production company.
He said: "I'm not going into internal opposition. I want to open up trade in agricultural produce so that the world's poorest countries can sell freely to the market."
He added: "This has nothing to do with Gordon. He tried to persuade me to stay. I want to bring about a different kind of politics."
Mr Wills, who started his career in the diplomatic service, won his Swindon North seat in 1997 and entered the Government in 1999 as a trade and industry minister.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments