"The prime minister has this evening asked Gavin Williamson to leave the government, having lost confidence in his ability to serve in the role of defence secretary and as a member of her cabinet," the Downing Street said in a press release. 

"The prime minister’s decision has been informed by his conduct surrounding an investigation into the circumstances of the unauthorised disclosure of information from a meeting of the National Security Council. 

The prime minister thanks all members of the National Security Council for their full cooperation and candour during the investigation and considers the matter closed."

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