'Ashamed' British lord resigns after showing up late to work

In some countries, brawls break out between elected officials, with colleagues kicking, punching, and throwing elbows during debate. In others, politicians apologize profusely and resign when they arrive late for work.

A Conservative member of Britain's House of Lords, Lord Michael Bates, showed up late to work on Wednesday, and missed a question by Baroness Lister of Burtersett. Bates, who was appointed in 2016 as minister of state at the Department for International Development, said he offered his "sincere apologies to Baroness Lister for my discourtesy in not being in my place to answer her question on a very important matter," and said he was "thoroughly ashamed at not being in my place and therefore I shall be offering my resignation to the prime minister with immediate effect. I do apologize."

The chamber erupted in gasps, and the Labour Party leader quickly stated that Bates did not need to resign over a "minor discourtesy." A spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May praised Bates for his "typical sincerity," but told him to pump the brakes. "His resignation was refused as it was judged this was unnecessary," he said. "As a hard-working and diligent minister, it is typical of his approach that he takes his responsibilities to Parliament so seriously."

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