Melanie Ward full statement after resigning as David Lammy ministerial aide

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"Melanie Ward, aide to David Lammy, has resigned from her post as pressure mounts on Sir Keir Starmer over his future. Ms Ward, parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the deputy prime minister, was the fourth government aide to resign on Monday as scores of Labour MPs called for Sir Keir to stand down. Joe Morris, PPS to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and Tom Rutland, PPS to Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, urged the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for his departure as they quit."

"Cabinet Office PPS Naushabah Khan also resigned, calling for new leadership at the head of the party. Sally Jameson, a PPS to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, has also joined the growing calls for Sir Keir to step aside from discontented MPs, who numbered 63 by Monday evening. Ms Ward, MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, said in a statement on X that the election result in Scotland was extremely disappointing and that she was resigning as parliamentary private secretary to the deputy prime minister."

The Independent describes its work covering issues including reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech, and says donations fund journalists who speak to multiple sides while separating facts from messaging. It states it is trusted across the political spectrum and does not use paywalls, arguing quality journalism should be available to everyone. The Independent also reports that Melanie Ward, parliamentary private secretary to David Lammy, has resigned as pressure increases on Sir Keir Starmer. Ward becomes the fourth government aide to resign on Monday, joining other PPS resignations tied to calls for a timetable for Starmer’s departure. Additional resignations include Cabinet Office PPS Naushabah Khan, and Sally Jameson has also joined calls for Starmer to step aside, with discontented MPs numbering 63 by Monday evening.

Read at www.independent.co.uk