Lord Bates, the international development minister, has resigned from his post after turning up late for work, prompting yells of "NO!" from members of the House of Lords.

The Conservative peer sparked confusion when he gave an apology for not being on time to answer questions from the dispatch box, having missed a question from Labour’s Baroness Lister of Burtersett.

“I have always believed we should rise to the highest possible standards of courtesy and respect in responding on behalf of the Government to the legitimate questions of the legislature,” he said.

“I am thoroughly ashamed of not being in my place and therefore I shall be offering my resignation to the Prime Minister with immediate effect.”

His decision shocked many.