Letter to Giles Shaw (resignation)

Dear Prime Minister,

Now that you have called a General Election may I write, in the first place, to wish you well in what I am sure will be an extremely successful campaign, resulting in a third major victory under your leadership.

In the second place, I wish to offer you my resignation as Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry.

As I am sure you would wish to make room in your next administration for new faces, I think this an appropriate time for me to return to the back-benches.

I have had the honour of serving you since May 1979 in five different Departments of State. I found each of these challenges absorbing and I have been particularly proud to assist in the handling of the miners' strike at the Department of Energy and in dealing with the police service at the Home Office when they were greatly under pressure. You have given me a fascinating role to play in your Government and I am deeply grateful for such an opportunity.

I hope you will accept this letter of resignation which is also a letter of deep felt thanks for allowing me to play a small part in the great success achieved by the Government which you lead.

Finally, may I assure you of my fullest support in the years ahead.

Yours ever

Giles. [end p1]

Dear Giles ShawGiles,

Many thanks for your letter of 18 May. It was most considerate and kind of you to write in such warm terms and of course I must respect your decision. I shall write to you again at the appropriate time, but I want you to know how grateful I am for all the work you have done to carry forward the Government's policies so effectively, and in so many different fields, since 1979.

Yours ever

Margaret.