The son of a Wycombe district councillor has resigned from his top government job over a Brexit disagreement.

Justice minister Dr Phillip Lee, the son of Cllr Tony Lee who is the Wycombe district councillor for Bourne End cum Hedsor, announced this morning he had resigned from his post saying he could not support “how our country's exit from the EU looks set to be delivered”.

The Bracknell MP, who studied at Marlow’s Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School, said his main objection to government policy was over the “wish to limit Parliament’s role in contributing to the final outcome”, and signalled he would rebel on the issue in the Commons.

Dr Lee also called for the government's final proposals to be put to the public in a second referendum.

He said in a statement: “Resigning as a minister from the government is a very difficult decision because it goes against every grain in my soul.

“The very word resign conveys a sense of giving up, but that is the last thing I will do. I take public service seriously and responsibly.

“That is the spirit that has always guided me as a doctor and continues to guide me as a politician.

“For me, resigning is a last resort – not something that I want to do but something I feel I must do because, for me, such a serious principle is being breached that I would find it hard to live with myself afterwards if I let it pass.

“I come to this decision after a great deal of personal reflection and discussion with family, friends and trusted colleagues.

“If, in the future, I am to look my children in the eye and honestly say that I did my best for them I cannot, in all good conscience, support how our country's exit from the EU looks set to be delivered.”