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Boris Johnson quits to add to pressure on May over Brexit Boris Johnson quits to add to pressure on May over Brexit
(35 minutes later)
Boris Johnson has resigned as Foreign Secretary amid a growing political crisis over the UK's Brexit strategy. Boris Johnson has resigned as foreign secretary amid a growing political crisis over the UK's Brexit strategy.
He is the second senior cabinet minister to quit within hours following Brexit Secretary David Davis's exit. It follows Brexit Secretary David Davis's resignation over Theresa May's proposals for trade with the EU.
His departure came shortly before Theresa May began addressing Parliament about her new Brexit plan, which has angered many Conservative MPs. The prime minister is currently addressing backbench Conservatives MPs, many of whom share the two former ministers' concerns.
She said she did not agree with the two ex-ministers about "the best way to honour" the result of the 2016 vote. Mrs May claims her plans are the "the best way to honour" the result of the 2016 EU referendum.
The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Johnson's exit had turned an "embarrassing and difficult situation for the PM into potentially a full-blown crisis", fuelling speculation about a leadership challenge.The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Johnson's exit had turned an "embarrassing and difficult situation for the PM into potentially a full-blown crisis", fuelling speculation about a leadership challenge.
Ahead of a meeting of Tory MPs at 17.30 BST, Mrs May's official spokesman said she would fight any attempt to oust her if the required 48 Tory MPs called for a contest. Mrs May's official spokesman said she would fight any attempt to oust her if the required 48 Tory MPs called for a contest.
No 10 said it will not reconsider the Chequers Brexit plan signed off by ministers on Friday but Laura Kuenssberg said she had been told by a source that either Theresa May "dumps" it or "another minister will go, then another, then another, then another". What prompted the row?
The UK is due to leave the European Union on 29 March 2019, but the two sides have yet to agree how trade will work between the UK and the EU afterwards.The UK is due to leave the European Union on 29 March 2019, but the two sides have yet to agree how trade will work between the UK and the EU afterwards.
There have been differences within the Conservatives over how far the UK should prioritise the economy by compromising on issues such as leaving the remit of the European Court of Justice and ending free movement of people.There have been differences within the Conservatives over how far the UK should prioritise the economy by compromising on issues such as leaving the remit of the European Court of Justice and ending free movement of people.
Theresa May only has a majority in Parliament with the support of the 10 MPs from Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, so any split raises questions about whether her plan could survive a Commons vote.Theresa May only has a majority in Parliament with the support of the 10 MPs from Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, so any split raises questions about whether her plan could survive a Commons vote.
More ministers to go? She took her entire cabinet to her country residence on Friday to try and get agreement on a UK vision for post-Brexit relations.
By the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg An agreement was announced after the 12 hour meeting, but many Brexiteers have been unhappy with the deal which they think will lead to the "worst of both worlds".
Now he's gone and done it. Why did David Davis resign?
For a long time it had been clear Boris Johnson was not happy with the prime minister's Brexit strategy. The man leading the UK's negotiating team, David Davis, resigned late on Sunday night, saying that he did not agree with the UK's proposals, so was the wrong person to be going into negotiations with them.
His dissatisfaction was more than just the odd off-colour remark, although goodness knows there were enough of them. He told the BBC that he thought the UK was giving away "too much, too easily" and predicted that the European Union would be demanding more concessions in talks.
His departure is a huge story and turns what might have been a couple of days of significant turmoil, into a significant crisis for Theresa May and for the whole Brexit project. Mr Davis, who has been Brexit Secretary since Mrs May became prime minister in 2016, said he had made compromises since taking on the role, but this was "one compromise too far".
He was Brexit's main cheerleader, the politician most associated with making it happen, and one of the best known politicians in the country, for good or ill. Boris Johnson adds to the pressure on May
Mr Johnson, who has been foreign secretary since June 2016, had been due to attend a summit on the future of the Western Balkans in London but did not show up - fuelling rumours about his imminent departure.Mr Johnson, who has been foreign secretary since June 2016, had been due to attend a summit on the future of the Western Balkans in London but did not show up - fuelling rumours about his imminent departure.
His resignation was confirmed just minutes before Mrs May's Commons statement. His resignation was confirmed just minutes before Mrs May made a Commons statement.
Mr Johnson has yet to explain the reasons for his departure and, as yet, has not even left the Foreign Office Mr Johnson has yet to explain the reasons for his departure and, as yet, has not even left the Foreign Office building.
Speaking in a boisterous House of Commons, Mrs May paid tribute to Mr Johnson's "passion" in championing a global Britain after Brexit and Mr Davis' work in steering through key Brexit legislation. BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Johnson's departure turns what might have been a couple of days of significant turmoil, into a significant crisis for Theresa May and for the whole Brexit project.
He was Brexit's main cheerleader, the politician most associated with making it happen, and one of the best known politicians in the country, for good or ill, she added.
Theresa May is sticking by her Brexit plan
Speaking in a boisterous House of Commons, Mrs May defended the Brexit plan agreed on Friday.
She paid tribute to Mr Johnson's "passion" in championing a global Britain after Brexit and Mr Davis' work in steering through key Brexit legislation.
But she told MPs: "We do not agree on the best way to deliver our shared commitments to honour the result of the referendum."But she told MPs: "We do not agree on the best way to deliver our shared commitments to honour the result of the referendum."
Mrs May told MPs that the plan agreed by the cabinet at Chequers was the basis of a "responsible and credible" offer to restart renegotiations with the EU.Mrs May told MPs that the plan agreed by the cabinet at Chequers was the basis of a "responsible and credible" offer to restart renegotiations with the EU.
She said she had listened to "every possible version" of Brexit over the past two years and what she was proposing was the "right Brexit" that would respect the referendum commitments on money, borders and laws but also protect the economy and ensure a "smooth" departure.She said she had listened to "every possible version" of Brexit over the past two years and what she was proposing was the "right Brexit" that would respect the referendum commitments on money, borders and laws but also protect the economy and ensure a "smooth" departure.
But she warned that if the EU did not engage with her plan, there was a "serious risk" of the UK leaving in March 2019 without a deal in a "disorderly" manner.But she warned that if the EU did not engage with her plan, there was a "serious risk" of the UK leaving in March 2019 without a deal in a "disorderly" manner.
What was the reaction in the Commons?
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mr Johnson and Mr Davis had abandoned a "sinking ship", shattering the the "illusion of unity" initially surrounding the Chequers plan.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mr Johnson and Mr Davis had abandoned a "sinking ship", shattering the the "illusion of unity" initially surrounding the Chequers plan.
"The Chequers compromise took two years to reach and two days to unravel," he said. "We have a crisis in government... it is clear this government cannot secure a good deal for Britain.""The Chequers compromise took two years to reach and two days to unravel," he said. "We have a crisis in government... it is clear this government cannot secure a good deal for Britain."
Mrs May came under pressure from prominent Tory Brexiteers on the backbenches, with ex-leader Iain Duncan Smith urging her to rule out further concessions during the talks.Mrs May came under pressure from prominent Tory Brexiteers on the backbenches, with ex-leader Iain Duncan Smith urging her to rule out further concessions during the talks.
And John Redwood said she must clear up "ambiguities and contradictions in the Chequers statement that implies we would give the European Court of Justice powers, we might pay money to trade, we might accept their laws and have their migration policies".And John Redwood said she must clear up "ambiguities and contradictions in the Chequers statement that implies we would give the European Court of Justice powers, we might pay money to trade, we might accept their laws and have their migration policies".
Former Tory chairman Grant Shapps, who last year called on Mrs May to consider her position, said it was the wrong time for a leadership contest and he hoped it would not happen.
He told the BBC a contest would take three months and "we physically do not have the time for that" given the state of negotiations and the need for a deal by October.
But former UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the ex-mayor of London had the chance to "save Brexit" by moving against the prime minister.But former UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the ex-mayor of London had the chance to "save Brexit" by moving against the prime minister.
What has been the reaction from the EU?
The European Commission declined to comment on Mr Davis's exit but Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said he hoped a change in faces might lead to a change in policy.The European Commission declined to comment on Mr Davis's exit but Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said he hoped a change in faces might lead to a change in policy.
What does it all mean for Brexit?
The UK and the EU have been negotiating Brexit terms for more than a year now and have been hoping to agree broad aims for their future relationship in October.
The aim of the Chequers away day had been to agree the UK position - after two years of discussion - but the resignations have put a question mark over that deal.
The uncertainty in the UK comes before the plan is officially put to the European Union, who may well be unhappy with aspects of it they have previously referred to as "cherry picking".
One other element of Friday's agreement worth noting is that it pledged to speed up preparations for the UK to be ready to leave the EU without a Brexit deal in March next year.