‘Newsnight offered me a goodbye interview with Jeremy Paxman. I didn’t return the call.’

I have been very touched this week by the messages of goodwill I’ve had after revealing my decision to step down from being a minister.

I’m neither the first nor the last MP to enjoy my constituency work deeply.  Indeed, my predecessor in my own seat was well-regarded for being often obstinate in Westminster and a great constituency MP at home.

I’m proud of what I’ve been able to contribute to my country, in three years as a whip and minister. I whipped the Welfare Reform bill through Parliament;  at the Treasury I negotiated detailed decommissioning contracts with the oil and gas industry, to open up billions of pounds of economic investment;  and at the Cabinet Office I have helped save £10bn of taxpayers’ money from wasteful government spend while taking five bills through Parliament in a year, including one that changed the laws on Royal succession to allow girls to take their place.