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Commons leader Andrea Leadsom quits government over Brexit Commons leader Andrea Leadsom quits government over Brexit
(32 minutes later)
Commons leader Andrea Leadsom has quit the cabinet, saying she no longer believes the government's approach will deliver Brexit. Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom has quit the cabinet, saying she no longer believes the government's approach will deliver Brexit.
Her resignation comes amid a backlash against Theresa May's Brexit plan from Conservative MPs.Her resignation comes amid a backlash against Theresa May's Brexit plan from Conservative MPs.
Several cabinet ministers have told the BBC that the PM cannot stay, with one saying it is "the end of the line".Several cabinet ministers have told the BBC that the PM cannot stay, with one saying it is "the end of the line".
Mrs Leadsom previously ran for Tory leader but withdrew, allowing Theresa May to become prime minister. Mrs Leadsom previously ran for Tory leader but withdrew, clearing the path for Mrs May to become prime minister.
In a letter to the prime minister, she said she did not believe "the UK would be a truly sovereign United Kingdom through the deal that is now proposed". As Commons leader, she was in charge of organising government business and had been due to announce when the prime minister's Withdrawal Agreement Bill would be introduced to Parliament.
Her resignation is the 36th by a minister under Theresa May - 21 of them over Brexit - and comes a day before the UK votes in the European elections.
The move came after a day of drama at Westminster in which anger grew at the prime minister's attempt to win backing for the bill - the legislation needed to implement the agreement between the UK and EU on the terms of Brexit.
As part of it, Mrs May has offered a number of concessions, including a chance for MPs to hold a vote on another referendum if they back the bill.
In a letter to the prime minister, Mrs Leadsom - MP for South Northamptonshire - said she did not believe "the UK would be a truly sovereign United Kingdom through the deal that is now proposed".
She also described holding another referendum as "dangerously divisive", and said she was opposed to the government "willingly facilitating such a concession".She also described holding another referendum as "dangerously divisive", and said she was opposed to the government "willingly facilitating such a concession".
Mrs May has offered MPs a chance to hold a vote on another referendum if they back her Withdrawal Agreement Bill - the legislation needed to implement the agreement between the UK and EU on the terms of Brexit. Another referendum would "risk undermining our Union which is something I passionately want to see strengthened", she argued.
She also attacked the "breakdown of government processes" saying that Brexit-related legislation proposals had not been "properly scrutinised".
"The tolerance to those in cabinet who have advocated policies contrary to the government's position has led to a complete breakdown of collective responsibility," she wrote.
She concluded her letter by paying tribute to "the integrity, resolution and determination" of the prime minister and urging her to "make the right decisions in the interests of the country, the government and our party".
Mrs Leadsom's resignation was praised by Conservative MP Tom Pursglove as "a very honourable and decent stand".
The Labour Party's Ian Lavery said it showed "the prime minister's authority is shot and her time is up."
'Tough it out'
Her minister's resignation capped a difficult day for the prime minister who continued to resist calls to quit herself.
Several cabinet ministers broke cover on Wednesday afternoon to signal their unhappiness with the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, among them Home Secretary Sajid Javid.
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt also requested a private meeting with the PM to discuss the situation.
But BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the PM declined to meet the ministers - both of whom are seen as possible contenders to be the next Conservative leader - and instead seemed determined to "tough it out".
The 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs had been expected to vote on Wednesday evening on whether to change the party's rules to allow an immediate vote of no confidence in the prime minister.
Current rules dictate that as the PM survived such a vote in December, she cannot face another one for 12 months.
The vote on a rule change did not in the end take place, but Mrs May is scheduled to meet the committee's chairman, Sir Graham Brady.
Laura Kuenssberg said the PM appeared to have bought herself 36 hours.
The PM had already pledged to set a timetable for a new leader to take over after MPs vote on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill. That in theory at least, is expected to happen on 7 June.