The ousted chair of the Competition and Markets Authority was applauded for his “dedication to public service” and for leaving behind a “stronger” watchdog just hours after being asked to resign by the government, emails obtained by Financial News show.

Business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds praised Marcus Bokkerink in a 21 January letter accepting his resignation, saying he was “confident that you have achieved the goals you set out to accomplish” and “sure that in the future we will have need to call upon your skills and expertise in public life”.