British lawmaker quits over 'misleading' statements on computer porn

Dec. 21 (UPI) -- British lawmaker Damian Green was sacked by Prime Minister Theresa May for making "misleading" statements about pornography found on his office computer years ago.

British Health Minister Jeremy Hunt said Green "lied" during an investigation into the pornography found on his work computer nearly a decade ago and said cabinet members are held to the "very highest standards of conduct."

Hunt said it's "a very sad moment for those of us who are colleagues of Damian, who know what a highly capable minister he was."

Green was May's closest ally in London and was credited with helping her rebuild the British government after she lost her parliamentary majority earlier this year.

"Theresa May made very clear in her letter that she was very uncomfortable with what had happened," Hunt said.

"We are where we are and certain things happened and that is why the prime minister took the very difficult decision that she had to."

Hunt added he was sure May "didn't want him to go" and asked him to resign "with a heavy heart."

With Green's role as first secretary of state open, Hunt has already been mentioned as his potential successor.

Green's departure came after a seven-week investigation concluded that he'd provided "misleading statements" to the public in two separate statements denying police had told him about the inappropriate material found on an office computer in 2008.