WITHAM MP Priti Patel will be resigning from her post as Home Secretary after Liz Truss takes office as Prime Minister.

Ms Patel has been Home Secretary for three years, after initially taking the role in July 2019 when Boris Johnson became Prime Minister.

She announced her intention to leave in a letter to Mr Johnson.

Ms Patel said: “I congratulate Liz Truss on being elected our new leader, and will give her my support as our new prime minister.

“It is my choice to continue my public service to the country and the Witham constituency from the backbenches, once Liz formally assumes office and a new Home Secretary is appointed.”

Mrs Truss won the race to become Britain’s new Prime Minister and the leader of the Conservative Party.

The former Foreign Secretary was announced as the victor of the Tory leadership contest yesterday at the QEII Conference Centre after securing 81,326 votes.

Her challenger, Rishi Sunak, fell short despite winning over 60,399 Conservative Party members following Boris Johnson’s decision to resign back in July.

Mrs Truss is expected to be officially unveiled as the country’s new Prime Minister today, making her the third woman in history to hold the biggest job in UK politics.

Before she resigned, Ms Patel defended her record in the Home Office.

In the House of Commons, she said: “I’d briefly like to remark on the last three years of Boris Johnson’s prime ministership under which I’ve served as Home Secretary.

“This morning, a written ministerial statement was tabled in my name outlining the work of the Home Office, this department over the last three years on our manifesto commitment. With that of course some of the biggest reforms on security, migration and public safety which the Speaker’s just spoken about.”

“I’m proud to serve in this Government and I’d like to thank the Prime Minister, Home Office ministers past and present and a wide range of officials.”

Ms Patel will continue in her role as Witham MP, which she took up in 2010.