Burrowes steps down from ministerial aide role

David Burrowes has resigned as a parliamentary private secretary in order to concentrate on his constituency.

David Burrowes will continue to represent Enfield Southgate in parliament

The Enfield Southgate MP, who has spent the last week in hospital being treated for a ruptured appendix, was most recently the PPS to environment secretary Owen Patterson.

In a letter to the prime minister Mr Burrowes said he wanted to “focus my attention in the remaining time of this parliament on what is in the best interests of my constituents, and our Party.”

His letter to David Burrowes continued: “I have concluded that it is the right time to resign as a PPS and return fully to the backbenches.

“It will give me the freedom and opportunity to work on issues like knife crime where I am leading with Nick de Bois MP an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill for mandatory sentences.

“I look forward to being on the backbenches to serve my constituents of Enfield Southgate and support the priority of economic and social recovery which needs the return of a Conservative Government in 2015.”

Mr Burrowes held Enfield Southgate at the last election in 2010 with a majority of 7,626.

Parliamentary private secretaries are MPs appointed by a minister to be their assistant, serving as their “the eyes and ears” in the House of Commons.