Tolhurst detailed her resignation in a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which outlined that she is stepping down from government to spend time with her family.

Tolhurst said: “Following on from some devastating news for my family, after much consideration and deep reflection, it is with the great sadness that I am writing to notify you of my intention to step down from my role as the parliamentary under secretary of state in the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government, so that I am able to care for, and spend some precious time with my family in the coming months.”

Johnson thanked Tolhurst for her contribution to government and said that he was “very sorry” to receive her resignation.

The Prime Minister later posted a tweet outlining that his thoughts were with Tolhurst.