Boris Johnson has resigned as foreign secretary in protest at Theresa May’s post-Brexit trade deal. It risks plunging the Tory government into a full-blown crisis as he’s the third minister to resign in 24 hours.
READ MORE: British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson resigns - Downing Street
Johnson abandoned his ministerial role after reportedly claiming attempts to defend May’s plan – agreed on Friday during a 12-hour cabinet meeting at her country residence Chequers – were like “polishing a turd.”
The Brexiteer – once described by May as an FFS – a Fine Foreign Secretary – said he could not promote the Brexit agreement, which would effectively see the UK abiding by EU regulations in order to establish a free trade area between the UK and EU.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “This afternoon, the prime minister accepted the resignation of Boris Johnson as foreign secretary. His replacement will be announced shortly. The prime minister thanks Boris for his work.”
It comes just hours after Housing Minister Dominic Raab was appointed as the successor to Brexit Secretary David Davis who resigned on Sunday night. Davis said it would not be “plausible” for him to deliver the PM’s trade agreement if he did not “believe” in it, saying it gave “away too much too easily” to EU negotiators.
Johnson’s abrupt departure was largely welcomed by his political rivals on Twitter, while fellow Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage welcomed his stance against the soft Brexit plan.
In a Facebook post about May’s cabinet woes, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that “even the British king of political eccentrics didn’t want to stay in the leaky boat."
If you like this story, share it with a friend!