Resignation

[Mercredi]

Who resigned over an unfortunately inscribed watch..was it Peter Mandelson?

[Ethel]

No, it was Michael Mates:

Micheal Mates, Conservative Minister of State for Northern Ireland

Resigned 24 June 1993

Mr Mates had no choice but to leave the government once his close relations with the fugitive businessman, Mr Asil Nadir came to light. The former minister had made the mistake of sending Mr Nadir a watch inscribed "don't let the ******* get you down".

[Peter Pedant]

Mr Mates used habitually to take the moral high ground in political rows.
it was a surprise therefore to read that he was a close associate of Mr Asil Nadir, who at that timme was accused to serious financial misdemeanours (fraud)