London: Two ministers have resigned from Theresa May’s government, including the minister in charge of Brexit, leaving her newly-minted plan for exiting the European Union in increasing disarray and her leadership under increasing pressure.
The deal “presents a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom,” Brexit secretary Dominic Raab warned in his resignation letter, signed on Thursday morning the day after May had announced her cabinet backed the Brexit deal negotiated with the EU.
Raab had replaced former Brexit secretary David Davis, who resigned in July in protest at the deal which was then still being thrashed out in Brussels.
Dominic Raab, Brexit secretary, has quit in protest against his government’s Brexit pan.Credit:Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
Raab said the deal, which was finalised on Wednesday, left Britain with an “indefinite backstop arrangement where the EU holds a veto over our ability to exit… an extensive regime imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied”.
The deal included several provisions to reduce disruption to business and ensure a seamless border in Ireland, which would require the UK to follow EU customs and single market rules that it will have no role in setting.
Raab’s resignation came minutes after that of Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara.
Vara said the UK would be left “in a half-way house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation”.
“We will be locked in a customs arrangement indefinitely, bound by rules determined by the EU over which we have no say,” Vara said.
“This agreement does not provide for the United Kingdom being a sovereign, independent country leaving the shackles of the EU. We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart.”
According to political blogger Guido Fawkes, Downing Street’s director of legislative affairs also resigned on Thursday. Nikki Da Costa’s main job would have been to ensure the passage of Brexit legislation – including approval of the deal and/or preparations for a potential ‘no deal’ Brexit – through parliament.
According to media reports up to a third of May’s cabinet had opposed the deal put to them on Wednesday night, in a marathon five-hour meeting at Number 10.
May’s officials had refused to put the issue to a vote, instead demanding consensus.
That suggests up to nine cabinet ministers oppose the deal but have not yet resigned.
There were rumours reported in the political press on Wednesday night that pro-Brexit Conservative MPs had the numbers to force a party vote on her continued leadership, possibly as soon as Thursday lunchtime.
On Wednesday night, after the cabinet meeting, May had warned the cabinet and parliament faced a choice between her deal, or to leave the EU with no deal, or have “no Brexit at all”.
She has not elaborated on the final option. May has previously, repeatedly and firmly, rejected the idea pushed by many in parliament and with significant public support, to have another referendum on Brexit.
Brexit will happen, by force of EU treaty, on March 29 unless both Britain and the EU take steps to reverse it.
If no exit deal is agreed then a ‘no deal’ Brexit is predicted to cause economic chaos, including the risk of food and medicine shortages, long queues at ports, major disruption to exports and imports, and a possible return of border checks in Ireland putting the Good Friday peace agreement in jeopardy.
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