09/04/2014

Maria Miller Quits As Culture Secretary

Maria Miller has resigned from her role as Culture Secretary.

The move comes after a week of increasing pressure following an expenses row, and subsequent investigation.

In a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, Mrs Miller said she was "very grateful" for his support during the row, but she also recognised that the controversy "has become a distraction from the vital work this Government is doing".

Mrs Miller was cleared of funding a home for her parents at taxpayers' expense, but was told she needed to repay £5,800 of the expenses she claimed. An independent parliamentary commissioner for standards had previously recommended she repay £45,000, but the lower amount was approved by the Commons Standards Committee.

In addition, the committee also criticised her "attitude" during the investigation, which it ruled was a breach of the parliamentary code of conduct.

Last week, following the investigation's findings, she issued a 32-second apology in the Commons which was heavily criticised due to the brevity of the apology.

It was then revealed that the former Culture Secretary met with the Prime Minister on Tuesday (8 April) and her resignation was confirmed on Wednesday.

(CVS/JP)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

10 April 2014
Prime Minister Defends 'Honest' Parliament
David Cameron has defended the reputation of Parliament after the resignation of Culture Secretary Maria Miller, reaffirmed it is full of "good and honest" MPs. Despite this, he also said that they could do more to put Parliament's integrity "beyond doubt", although rules had been improved since 2010.
03 December 2013
Agreement To Protect Customers From Stolen Phone Bills
A new agreement has been announced between the government and four of the top mobile phone companies in the UK to better protect consumers from bills run up on stolen mobile phones. Culture Secretary Maria Miller announced the move, which was agreed by four major companies; EE, Three, Virgin Media and Vodafone.
03 April 2014
Maria Miller To Repay Expenses Claim
Culture Secretary Maria Miller has been ordered to repay £5,800 by the Commons Committee on Standards. Mrs Miller has also been told to apologise to MPs.
26 July 2010
Axe Falls On UK Film Council
The UK Film Council is to be abolished as part of cost-cutting measures announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced the decision as part of measures that would see 55 public bodies facing either mergers, streamlining or abolition, in a bid to save money.
28 October 2015
Scheme Launched To Protect Cultural Sites From 'Destructive Forces'
The government has announced a new scheme to protect cultural sites from "the destructive forces of war and ISIL terrorists" Culture Secretary John Whittingdale has announced. The £3m Iraqi Emergency Heritage Management Project – which will be run by the British Museum over five years – was launched today at a cultural summit in central London.