Unanimity requires that, once a decision or agreement has been reached, all ministers should publicly agree with government policy and, if they feel that they cannot do this, they should resign. This applies even if the minister was not present at the discussions. Examples include the resignations in 2003 of John Denham, Minister for Police and Crime Reduction, Robin Cook, the Leader of the House, and Clare Short, the International Development Secretary, in protest at the government's decision to embark upon the war in Iraq.