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Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigns over EU agreement | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has resigned saying he "cannot in good conscience support" the UK's draft Brexit agreement with the EU. | Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has resigned saying he "cannot in good conscience support" the UK's draft Brexit agreement with the EU. |
Theresa May announced on Wednesday evening that she had secured the backing of her cabinet for the agreement, after a five hour meeting. | Theresa May announced on Wednesday evening that she had secured the backing of her cabinet for the agreement, after a five hour meeting. |
But several ministers were understood to have spoken against it. | But several ministers were understood to have spoken against it. |
And there are suggestions of moves among Conservative backbenchers to force a no-confidence vote in her. | And there are suggestions of moves among Conservative backbenchers to force a no-confidence vote in her. |
The prime minister is due to make a Commons statement on the Brexit agreement at 1030 GMT. | |
Mr Raab - a Leave supporter who was promoted to the cabinet to replace David Davis when he quit in protest at Mrs May's Brexit plans - is among a group of senior ministers thought to be unhappy with the agreement. | Mr Raab - a Leave supporter who was promoted to the cabinet to replace David Davis when he quit in protest at Mrs May's Brexit plans - is among a group of senior ministers thought to be unhappy with the agreement. |
He was closely involved in drafting the agreement, which sets out the terms of Britain's departure from the EU. | |
In his resignation letter, Mr Raab said he could not support it because the regulatory regime proposed for Northern Ireland "presents a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom". | |
And, he added, the "backstop" arrangements aimed at preventing the return of a hard Irish border would result in the EU "holding a veto over our ability to exit". | |
"Above all, I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election," he told the prime minister. | |
The BBC's Norman Smith said Mr Raab's departure puts pressure on other cabinet members to quit, raising the prospect of a "domino effect" that could end in the break-up of the cabinet. | |
Remain-backing Conservative MP Anna Soubry tweeted: "Raab's resignation marks the end of PMs Withdrawal Agreement. This is v serious the PM will clearly be considering her position. My own view is that we need a Govt of National Unity and we need it now." | |
Conservative Brexiteer MP Anne Marie Morris told BBC News she believed enough Tory MPs had now sent letters to the chairman of the 1922 committee to trigger a leadership contest. | |
She said there was enough time to install a new prime minister and change course on Brexit, adding: "Now is not the time for her leadership." | |
Labour's shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: "It is now clear the prime minister didn't have the backing of her cabinet." | |
He urged her to "listen to Parliament" where, he claimed, there would be a "growing majority" against a no-deal Brexit and in favour of other options. | |
Earlier on Thursday, Shailesh Vara quit as minister of state for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Mrs May's agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation". | Earlier on Thursday, Shailesh Vara quit as minister of state for Northern Ireland, saying he cannot support Mrs May's agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation". |