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Cardiff MP Jenny Willott quits government role

Jenny Willott has quit as Assistant Government Whip to concentrate on her constituency MP role.

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Lib Dem president praises Willott

The Liberal Democrats' party president, Tim Farron, has praised Cardiff Central MP Jenny Willott. Ms Willott resigned from the UK Coalition government to focus on issues affecting her constituency.

She's defended herself against accusations from her Labour opponents that she's 'neglected' her constituency. And she won the backing of Tim Farron on twitter.

Willott's resignation is 'shameful admission' says Labour

One of Jenny Willott's challengers in her Cardiff Central constituency has called her resignation from government a 'shameful admission' that the Liberal Democrat MP has 'neglected her constituency.'

Ms Willott says she's stepping down from her job as Assistant Whip to focus on her constituency. Labour's parliamentary candidate, Jo Stevens, said:

Voters in Cardiff Central will see this resignation for what it really is - a shameful admission that Jenny Willott has neglected her constituency.

It is completely arrogant of the Lib Dems to think that having delivered the Bedroom Tax, given a £100,000 tax cut to millionaires and trebled tuition fees that people will conveniently forget what they have done.

– Jo Stevens, Labour Parliamentary Candidate

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Clegg hopes Willott will return to government

The Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, says he hopes to see Jenny Willott back in government after next year's General Election. The Cardiff Central MP has stepped down as Assistant Whip in order to concentrate on her constituency.

In his reply to her resignation letter, Mr Clegg thanks Ms Willott for a 'fantastic job' in government.

Dear Jenny, Thank you for the excellent job that you have done over the past two and a half years as an Assistant Government Whip, ensuring that the coalition has been successful in getting important liberal reforms through parliament.

I am also very grateful to you for your work as Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs Minister and Minister for Women and Equalities, providing maternity cover to Jo Swinson. You did a fantastic job, which has been widely praised.

I fully understand your desire to stand down from the whips role in the final months of this parliament so you can speak in parliament and focus on your constituency but I very much hope that we will have the opportunity of working alongside each other in government after the next election.

Best wishes,

Nick

– Nick Clegg letter to Jenny Willott

Cardiff MP Jenny Willott quits government role

Jenny Willott said she wanted to concentrate on her role as constituency MP. Credit: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

Jenny Willott has quit as Assistant Government Whip to concentrate on her constituency MP role, it has been confirmed.

Ms Willott, who moved to Cardiff 14 years ago, is the Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said he understands her decision, while Welsh Secretary and fellow MP Stephen Crabb said he would be sorry to see her leave.

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