Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Labour MP Tom Harris has quit the frontbench - saying he was unable to juggle the responsibility with his family life.
The MP for Glasgow South was appointed shadow environment, food and rural affairs minister in May last year.
But he told party leader Ed Miliband that combining that extra role with his responsibilities as a husband and father had proved "beyond me".
In his resignation letter, the former minister who sought the leadership of the party in Scotland, said he had been "delighted" to return to the frontbench.
But he added: "You and the party need frontbenchers who can fully commit to holding the coalition to account and to doing the hard work necessary to move into government in two years.
"I am faced with the uncomfortable truth that my talents, such as they are, do not extend to being an effective front bencher as well as a good husband and father."
Mr Harris, an MP since 2001, has two sons with wife Carolyn as well as an older son from his first marriage.
Writing for the Telegraph, he said he was not advocating making the Westminster role less time-consuming, saying it was right that being an MP should be a "tough job".
"Most shadow ministers with young families seem to cope quite well in balancing the demands of their jobs with their family commitments. I envy them, because I've tried and I can't," he wrote.
"So I'm passing on my briefings and papers, my diary appointments and contacts, my facts and figures about wildlife cruelty, fishing quotas and bee action plans, and my badger costume (that last one was made up but it's an idea) to my lucky successor.
"I genuinely hope he or she becomes a Defra minister. As for me, I'm looking forward to spending more time with my family. Serves them right, too."
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments