A FORMER government minister who resigned earlier this week has thanked the Prime Minister for his service to the country.

Mims Davies, MP for Mid Sussex, served as employment minister but quit her post amid a wave of resignations calling for the Prime Minister to stand down.

Following Boris Johnson’s announcement to resign yesterday, Ms Davies said that he had a “very challenging wicket to bat from” and thanked him for “his public service and kindness to me”.

She also said it had been a “huge honour” to have served in government in various roles over the last five years.

Ms Davies shared a letter she received from the Prime Minister in response to her resignation, in which he said: “As minister for employment, you have made a vital contribution to some of the key successes of this government.

“Thank you for your commitment to public service.”

In a scathing letter to the Prime Minister earlier this week, Ms Davies resigned as a minister and said that the work of the government had been “overshadowed” by scandal in Westminster.

She said: “Many people go into politics to make a difference and I would like to say I am one of them.

"But these last few months have led me to believe that we must strive to make that difference while fully upholding the highest standards in public life and remain true to our values as an individual and as a Conservative.

“I am sad to say many of my constituents feel you have not met those standards and I agree with them. I have no confidence in your leadership, and I ask you to consider your position for the sake of the country and party.”

The race to replace Boris Johnson is well underway, with transport secretary Grant Shapps, former Chancellor Rishi Sunak and foreign secretary Liz Truss all considering campaigns to become the leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister.

However, Johnson critic and MP for East Worthing and Shoreham Tim Loughton has all but ruled himself out of the leadership contest.

Mr Loughton replied with a laughing face emoji on Twitter after a user on the social media platform suggested he should “step up” as he would “make a good PM”.