Alistair Burt has confirmed he is leaving his position as Foreign Office minister in today’s Cabinet reshuffle.

Mr Burt posted on Twitter: “Standing down today. The last three and a half years have been a pleasure working on an extraordinary portfolio with talented people. Thank you all!”

Before entering the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the MP for North East Bedfordshire was an officer at the Conservative Friends of Israel lobby group.

In December 2008, he headed an All-Party Parliamentary Group with the Red Cross to campaign for visiting rights for Israeli hostage Gilad Shalit.

But Mr Burt recently condemned Israel over its plans to build new settlements beyond the Green Line in a move that he called “profoundly provocative”.

Former sports minister Hugh Robertson has been announced as Mr Burt's successor.