The Conservative MP Mark Pritchard has resigned from a party role in response to David Cameron's stance on the European Union. Pritchard, an MP in Shropshire since 2010 and a member of the 1922 Committee, steps down with immediate effect as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party International Office.

In a letter dated today, obtained by Politics Home, Pritchard writes to the prime minister:

Given my concerns, regarding an increasing number of government politics, not least on immigration, Europe and a lack of clarity for national and individual aspiration, I believe remaining as deputy chairman would be inconsistent and inhibit my ability to speak out more freely on these and other issues.

The move by the openly eurosceptic Tory MP -- one of the 79 who rebelled against the coalition by demanding a referendum on British membership to the EU -- coincides neatly with renewed attacks on Cameron for his actions at last week's EU summit in Brussels. The prime minister claimed success at the summit, though European sources told the BBC he had got "half of what he was asking for".

Of his announcement, Pritchard said he had been "pondering this for about three or four weeks" and that his timing was "purely coincidental". At the very least, the news still shows what may be the first cracks in the prime minister's strained relationship with his Tory backbenchers.