Labour MP Afzal Khan has resigned as the UK's trade envoy to Turkey following criticism of his visit last week to the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
The territory isn't recognised by the UK government as Turkish troops have occupied Cyprus' northern third since the 1974 invasion.
Mr Khan, the MP for Manchester Rusholme, also met with Turkish-Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar - a move which the Cypriot government described as "absolutely condemnable and unacceptable".
Mr Khan told the BBC he paid for the trip himself and was visiting his nephew, alongside receiving an honorary degree from an academic institution.
In a letter to the prime minister today, Mr Khan said he felt it was "best to stand down at this time so not to distract from the hard work the government is doing to secure the best possible trade deals for this country".
