Tobias Ellwood quits as chair of defence select committee over Taliban remarks

Tory MP steps down after four committee member called for no-confidence vote over praise for Afghan regime

Tobias Ellwood has resigned as chair of the defence select committee after four of its members called for a vote of no confidence in light of comments he made praising the Taliban after a visit to Afghanistan in July.

The Conservative MP said he had been guilty of poor communications" and that continuing to serve as chair would be a distraction, though he insisted that he retained the support of the majority of MPs on the committee.