A Cornish MP has today resigned from his role as a Parliamentary Private Secretary in protest at what he described as a "watered down" Brexit.

Scott Mann, MP for North Cornwall, was appointed as a private secretary to the Treasury in this year but said he now believed the Brexit white paper would put him in "direct conflict" with the views of many of his constituents and said he was "not prepared to compromise."

In his letter of resignation to Prime Minister Teresa May, which he shared publicly this morning, Mr Mann said: "Over the coming days, weeks and months, I fear that elements of the Brexit white paper will inevitably put me in direct conflict with the views expressed by a large section of my constituents.

"I am not prepared to compromise their wishes to deliver a watered down Brexit."

Describing his "sadness" at stepping down from the prestigious role, which is often considered to be the first stepping stone to becoming a government minister, Mr Mann added: "The residents of North Cornwall made it very clear that they wish to have control over our fishery, our agricultural policy, our money, our laws and our borders. I will evaluate those core principles against the Brexit white paper and ensure that I vote in line with their wishes."

Mr Mann campaigned for the UK to leave the EU in the 2016 European Union Referendum.

He signed off his resignation letter by saying it had "been a pleasure" to serve as a Parliamentary Private Secretary, first in the Transport department and latterly the Treasury, and thanked Mrs May for that opportunity.