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| James Brokenshire: Northern Ireland Secretary resigns | James Brokenshire: Northern Ireland Secretary resigns |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire has resigned from government, the Northern Ireland Office has confirmed. | Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire has resigned from government, the Northern Ireland Office has confirmed. |
| It is understood he requires surgery for a lung condition. | It is understood he requires surgery for a lung condition. |
| Mr Brokenshire, 50, took the role in July 2016, replacing Theresa Villiers. | Mr Brokenshire, 50, took the role in July 2016, replacing Theresa Villiers. |
| Prime Minister Theresa May, who is carrying out a cabinet reshuffle, paid a warm tribute to the outgoing secretary of state, and wished him a "speedy recovery". | |
| Mr Brokenshire said recent health tests revealed that he has a "small lesion" in his right lung which needs to be removed. | |
| He said his doctors believe he will be able to return to work after the operation, but it will take him "a number of weeks" to recover. | |
| He added that it had been "a huge honour and privilege" to serve as secretary of state for Northern Ireland. | |
| "My earnest wish for everyone in Northern Ireland is to see devolved government restored as quickly as possible." | "My earnest wish for everyone in Northern Ireland is to see devolved government restored as quickly as possible." |
| His resignation comes almost a year to the day that the Northern Ireland Assembly collapsed following a scandal over a renewable energy scheme. | His resignation comes almost a year to the day that the Northern Ireland Assembly collapsed following a scandal over a renewable energy scheme. |
| The coalition led by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin fell apart when the late Martin McGuinness resigned as deputy first minister on 9 January, 2017. | The coalition led by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin fell apart when the late Martin McGuinness resigned as deputy first minister on 9 January, 2017. |
| Despite months of negotiations aimed at restoring power-sharing, the parties have been unable to reach a deal to return to government. | Despite months of negotiations aimed at restoring power-sharing, the parties have been unable to reach a deal to return to government. |
| In a letter to Mr Brokenshire, the prime minister wrote: "While it is typical of you that your first thought was not for yourself, but for your duties as a cabinet minister and public servant, it is absolutely right that you should put your health first, for your sake and that of your family." | In a letter to Mr Brokenshire, the prime minister wrote: "While it is typical of you that your first thought was not for yourself, but for your duties as a cabinet minister and public servant, it is absolutely right that you should put your health first, for your sake and that of your family." |
| DUP leader Arlene Foster said: "This is clearly a difficult time for not only James but for Cathy, his wife and his children. I send my best wishes to him and the entire Brokenshire family. I trust James will have the surgery he needs and will make a full recovery. | DUP leader Arlene Foster said: "This is clearly a difficult time for not only James but for Cathy, his wife and his children. I send my best wishes to him and the entire Brokenshire family. I trust James will have the surgery he needs and will make a full recovery. |
| "Since becoming secretary of state in 2016, Mr Brokenshire had immersed himself fully in the role by dedicating long hours to trying to make progress. | "Since becoming secretary of state in 2016, Mr Brokenshire had immersed himself fully in the role by dedicating long hours to trying to make progress. |
| "James leaves the role with a very intimate knowledge of Northern Ireland and I look forward to working with him again in the future." | "James leaves the role with a very intimate knowledge of Northern Ireland and I look forward to working with him again in the future." |
| SDLP leader Colum Eastwood also sent his "sincere best wishes" to Mr Brokenshire. | SDLP leader Colum Eastwood also sent his "sincere best wishes" to Mr Brokenshire. |
| "In the course of negotiations, the SDLP has often disagreed with the position of his government but I have always found Mr Brokenshire to be personable, reasonable and, so far as possible, helpful. | "In the course of negotiations, the SDLP has often disagreed with the position of his government but I have always found Mr Brokenshire to be personable, reasonable and, so far as possible, helpful. |
| "Our thoughts are with him and his family as he takes time to concentrate on his health." | "Our thoughts are with him and his family as he takes time to concentrate on his health." |
| Labour Shadow Secretary of State, Owen Smith, tweeted his support, saying he was sure the people of Northern Ireland would "thank James for his diligent service". | Labour Shadow Secretary of State, Owen Smith, tweeted his support, saying he was sure the people of Northern Ireland would "thank James for his diligent service". |
| Mr Brokenshire was first elected as the Conservative MP for Old Bexley & Sidcup in May 2010. He was subsequently re-elected in 2015 and again in 2017 with more than 60% of the vote. | Mr Brokenshire was first elected as the Conservative MP for Old Bexley & Sidcup in May 2010. He was subsequently re-elected in 2015 and again in 2017 with more than 60% of the vote. |
| He lives in Bexley with his wife, Catherine, and the couple's three children. | He lives in Bexley with his wife, Catherine, and the couple's three children. |
| Before entering parliament, Mr Brokenshire was a partner in an international law firm. | Before entering parliament, Mr Brokenshire was a partner in an international law firm. |
| From May 2011 to May 2015, he served as security minister at the Home Office. | From May 2011 to May 2015, he served as security minister at the Home Office. |
| That role included supporting Mrs May, the then home secretary, with oversight of the work of MI5 and the national police counter-terrorism network. | That role included supporting Mrs May, the then home secretary, with oversight of the work of MI5 and the national police counter-terrorism network. |
| BBC News NI political correspondent Gareth Gordon | BBC News NI political correspondent Gareth Gordon |
| As far as Theresa May was concerned, at a time of unprecedented upheaval, James Brokenshire was probably as near to a being a safe pair of hands as her current Cabinet possessed. | As far as Theresa May was concerned, at a time of unprecedented upheaval, James Brokenshire was probably as near to a being a safe pair of hands as her current Cabinet possessed. |
| But in Northern Ireland, as devolution collapsed around him, he was often dismissed as a "do-nothing" secretary of state who allowed the situation to drift when decisive action was required. | But in Northern Ireland, as devolution collapsed around him, he was often dismissed as a "do-nothing" secretary of state who allowed the situation to drift when decisive action was required. |
| For republicans and nationalists, he and his government were seen as being too close to the DUP. | For republicans and nationalists, he and his government were seen as being too close to the DUP. |
| As far as some in the DUP were concerned, he should have already moved towards introducing direct rule in the face of what they saw as Sinn Fein intransigence. | As far as some in the DUP were concerned, he should have already moved towards introducing direct rule in the face of what they saw as Sinn Fein intransigence. |
| Caught between these two positions, he appeared to be impotent, but whoever replaces him will face exactly the same problems. | Caught between these two positions, he appeared to be impotent, but whoever replaces him will face exactly the same problems. |
| His responsibilities also included the government's counter-terrorism strategy and he was part of the prime minister's extremism taskforce. | His responsibilities also included the government's counter-terrorism strategy and he was part of the prime minister's extremism taskforce. |
| He also led negotiations with the Jordanian government to secure the deportation of the radical cleric Abu Qatada. | He also led negotiations with the Jordanian government to secure the deportation of the radical cleric Abu Qatada. |