A British MP for the ruling Conservative Party has been sacked from his role as a ministerial aide after calling for a ceasefire, Al Jazeera reports.

Paul Bristow, an aide to the secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, had written a letter to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week urging him to change his position on the conflict and back a “permanent” end to the hostilities.

In a statement, a Downing Street spokesperson said the decision to remove Bristow from his position came in response to comments deemed “not consistent with the principles of collective responsibility”.

Bristow, who represents Peterborough in parliament, expressed understanding about Sunak’s decision. “It is with regret I leave a job I enjoyed. But I can now talk openly about an issue so many of my constituents care deeply about,” he told the BBC.