Second Tory minister stands down

Lord Marland previously worked as an insurance executive

Lord Marland has become the second Tory minister in the House of Lords to stand down in a matter of days.

No 10 said the business minister had resigned from his position to “focus on his role in trade promotion”.

A former Conservative Party treasurer, Lord Marland became a peer in 2006 and has held a number of jobs, first in opposition and then in the coalition.

His decision follows that of Lord Strathclyde to quit as Lords leader after 14 years on the Tory front bench.

Both men have signalled their intention to focus on outside business interests.

Lord Marland was a junior minister in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills – acting as the government’s business spokesman in the House of Lords – having previously held a similar role in the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

Before accepting a peerage, he was a senior insurance executive.