Michael Bates
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Michael Bates is a UK conservative politician. He was MP for Langbaurgh from 1992 to 1997, has held a series of junior ministerial roles since entering the House of Lords.
Sudden resignation
On 31st January 2018, Bates suddenly resigned from the UK House Of Lords, ostensibly out of shame at turning up half an hour late to answer a question from Ruth Lister "on income inequality".[1] He stated that he was “thoroughly ashamed at not being in my place” for the question, tucked his papers under his arm and "walked out to loud shouts of “no!” from others in the chamber."[1]
Statement
Bates said that “I want to offer my sincere apologies to Baroness Lister for my discourtesy in not being in my place to answer her question on a very important matter at the beginning of questions.” He declined to provide an answer to her question, which was answered in his absence by the Lords chief whip, John Taylor.
Non-acceptance
Theresa May refused to accept his resignation. A Downing Street spokesperson said: “With typical sincerity, Lord Bates today offered to tender his resignation after missing the start of an oral questions session in the House of Lords, but his resignation was refused as it was judged this was unnecessary.”
