Yorkshire MP resigns from shadow front bench over controversial Sun column

The Rotherham MP had initially sought to distance herself from the article, but within hours of accusing the newspaper of altering the piece she announced she was standing down and apologised for any offence she had caused.

The decision came as more than 100 cross-party MPs and peers wrote a joint letter to the tabloid paper, accusing it of "[stoking] up hatred and hostility against Muslims".

Led by the Bradford MP Naz Shah, the group cites a specific article by The Sun columnists Trevor Kavanagh in which the journalist urges politicians to address the country's "Muslim problem".

"Muslims currently face threats from far right and neo-Nazi groups in the UK and your publication of this article can therefore only be seen as an attempt to further stoke up hatred and hostility against Muslims," the group writes.

“We implore you to not only retract this article but given the sacking of Mr Myers following his disgraceful anti-Semitic article in the The [Sunday] Times, strongly consider whether Mr Kavanagh’s brand of bigotry fits with your vision for the paper.”

Defending her column, Ms Champion claimed that she was trying to “open [up] the debate about a very specific form of child abuse”.

The piece, which was published on Friday, opened with the claim that: "Britain has a problem with British Pakistani men raping and exploiting white girls.”

The MP initially accused The Sun of stripping her article of "any nuance about the complex issue of grooming gangs, which have exploited thousands in my constituency”.

But she later apologised "for the offence caused by the extremely poor choice of words".

"I am concerned that my continued position in the shadow cabinet would distract from the crucial issues around child protection which I have campaigned on my entire political career," he resignation statement said.

"It is therefore with regret that I tender my resignation as shadow secretary of state for women and equalities."