The UK’s chief civil servant, Simon Case, has resigned his membership from the men-only Garrick Club, Sky News understands.
It comes following criticism of his membership of the organisation due to its restrictive entry requirements.
Asked about his membership on Tuesday, Mr Case said: “I have to say, my position on this one is clear, if you believe profoundly in reform of an institution, by and large it is easier to do if you join it and make the change from within rather than chuck rocks from the outside.
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“And by the way, maths is also part of this.
“Every one person who leaves who is in favour of fixing this antediluvian position, every one of us who leaves means these institutions don’t change.
“I think when you want reform you have to participate.”
A list of members of the club was recently published by The Guardian newspaper, which included the King, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden and Sir Richard Moore, the head of MI6.
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