Tory Eurosceptics appear intent on a programme of rolling resignations in response to Theresa May’s plan to keep the UK closely tied to the European Union after Brexit.
A series of MPs, ranging from star names to minor players, have quit over the plan, with Scott Mann becoming the ninth to resign.
July 8:
– David Davis
The Tory veteran quit as Brexit secretary late on Sunday July 8, telling the Prime Minister: “The general direction of policy will leave us in at best a weak negotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one.”
July 9:
– Boris Johnson
The departing foreign secretary used a scathing resignation letter to the Prime Minister to say that, under her leadership, the UK was “heading for a semi-Brexit”, with the dream of an outward-looking global Britain “dying, suffocated by needless self-doubt”.
I am proud to have served as Foreign Secretary. It is with sadness that I step down: here is my letter explaining why. pic.twitter.com/NZXzUZCjdF
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) July 9, 2018
– Chris Green
The Bolton West MP quit as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS), an unpaid ministerial aide, at the Department for Transport, saying “Brexit must mean Brexit”.
I have handed in my resignation to the Prime Minister as PPS. Brexit must mean Brexit pic.twitter.com/zncKir9AsB
— Chris Green (@CGreenUK) July 9, 2018
– Conor Burns
He had been the PPS to Mr Johnson but quit, saying “I want to see the referendum result respected”.
I’ve enjoyed a fantastic year as PPS to @BorisJohnson and six years as PPS to five different Ministers. I’ve decided it’s time to have greater freedom. I want to see the referendum result respected. And there are others areas of policy I want to speak more openly on.
— Conor Burns MP (@ConorBurnsUK) July 9, 2018
July 10
– Maria Caulfield
Resigned as vice-chairman of the Conservative Party saying “I cannot support the direction of travel in the Brexit negotiations”.
#Breaking Conservative vice-chairs Ben Bradley and Maria Caulfield have resigned their posts because of their opposition to Theresa May’s Chequers policy on Brexit pic.twitter.com/cpb0pzAbAZ
— Press Association (@PA) July 10, 2018
– Ben Bradley
Also quit as a Tory vice-chairman, warning “if we do not deliver Brexit in spirit as well as in name, then we are handing Jeremy Corbyn the keys to Number 10”.
July 15
– Robert Courts
The Witney MP quit as PPS at the Foreign Office saying he could not “support the proposals in their current form”.
I have taken very difficult decision to resign position as PPS to express discontent with #Chequers in votes tomorrow. I had to think who I wanted to see in the mirror for the rest of my life. I cannot tell the people of WOxon that I support the proposals in their current form.
— Robert Courts MP (@robertcourts) July 15, 2018
July 16
– Scott Mann
The former postman said he would not “deliver a watered down Brexit” as he quit as a Treasury PPS .
It is with a great deal of sadness that I have tendered my resignation as a Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Treasury. pic.twitter.com/b052Nj0PxK
— Scott Mann (@scottmann4NC) July 16, 2018
