MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire, has announced he has left the government.

Through a statement released on Twitter, Mr Brokenshire said he will be return to the backbenches after serving more than nine years as an MP.

He wrote: "After 13 years service on the front bench including 9 in Government will be heading to the backbenches.

"Has been a huge privilege to serve, but looking forward to being released from collective responsibility and campaigning on issues that matter to me and my constituents."

The Bexley MP worked under a number of roles during his time in Parliament, which included being Secretary of State for Northern Ireland as well as Minister for Security and Immigration while under former Prime Minister David Cameron.

This comes as a string of other MPs have announced their resignation from government only a few hours after Boris Johnson was handed the keys to 10 Downing Street.

Johnson's opponent in the recent election, Jeremy Hunt, has also announced he would be leaving the government, along with Commons Leader Mel Stride; Scottish Secretary David Mundell and Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley.