Brighton MP steps down from Labour frontbench role

Lloyd-Russell Moyle said it had ‘unleashed a torrent of online hate and daily calls of harassment to my office’.

While stepping down as minister for air quality and the natural environment, he would remain a Labour MP.

Last month he apologised to Harry Potter author JK Rowling after an article he wrote about trans rights mentioned her experience of sexual and domestic abuse.

At the weekend he also said sorry after decade old critical comments made on Facebook about Israel and Zionism were unearthed.

Announcing his resignation, he said: “It is my job to get political flack, but it is not the job of caseworkers, researchers and assistants to be attacked.

“It has also led to hounding and stress, from which I need a few weeks to support my team and myself to collectively recover.

“I am here to represent all my constituents and I am grateful to all those who voted for me, and to the people who believe Labour can make our country a fair, better, happier place for us all. I shall continue to work hard for you.”