The UK's chief civil servant, Simon Case and MI6 chief Richard Moore have resigned their membership at the Garrick Club following criticism that the club has rejected the admission of women as members.
The men-only club received backlash after a list of members, including the King, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden and a number of senior lawyers, were published by The Guardian.
Case - who is the leader of half a million civil servants - was condemned for being a member of the club.
But on Wednesday, his spokesperson said: "I can formally confirm that the cabinet secretary has resigned his membership of the Garrick Club."
The UK's chief civil servant, Simon Case and MI6 chief Richard Moore have resigned their membership at the Garrick ClubGetty/ PAIt is believed that Moore decided to quit the group following internal criticism from colleagues within MI6.
It has been reported that the MI6 chief wrote to staff twice within 24 hours.
On Tuesday, Moore allegedly sent a message acknowledging the reputational hit that news of his membership posed to the service.
He added that he would not be resigning as he was campaigning for women to be allowed to join.
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However, the following morning on further reflection, it is reported that he decided to quit the Garrick.
The club has refused to admit women since it was founded in 1831.
Case defended his membership after claiming he joined the club in an attempt to overturn its all-male policy.
Jill Rutter, a former civil servant who is now a part of the UK in a Changing Europe thinktank, slammed Case's defence.
The men-only club received backlash after a list of members, including the King, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden and a number of senior lawyers, were published by The Guardian
GettyShe said: "Simon Case casts himself as Garrick's fifth columnist leading an army of militant public servants who have just joined to change the rules to admit women.
"[I] am wondering how impressed his female colleagues are by this noble sacrifice."
According to the club's website, the Garrick "has around 1,300 members including many of the most distinguished actors and men of letters in England".