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This is Business Insider’s politics live-blog charting the latest developments as May’s Brexit deal continues to unravel. Refresh the page for updates.
LONDON — Theresa May suffered a huge blow to her authority on Thursday as multiple ministers including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Work & Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned in protest at her Brexit plans.
McVey and Raab’s resignations followed a gruelling five-hour Cabinet meeting yesterday in which the prime minister sought to persuade sceptical ministers to support her deal and sell it to backbench MPs. While she claimed yesterday that she had won the support of Cabinet, at least 10 senior ministers were known to have deep reservations over her draft exit plan.
Raab’s announcement has triggered a “domino effect” of Conservative MPs in stepping down from their government positions, including junior Brexit minister Suella Braverman. Follow the latest developments here.
12:40 PM: Another junior minister quits over Brexit
Twitter/@TeamRanil
Ranil Jayawardena has quit as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Ministry of Justice over Theresa May’s draft Brexit plan.
In his letter to the prime minister, he said: “… I cannot agree, in the cold light of day, that the deal in front of us is right for our country. It does not deliver a good or fair Brexit.”
12:30 PM: Raab is a “carpet bagger,” Scotland Secretary says
Twitter/@ITVBorderRB
Dominic Raab is a “carpet bagger,” according to his former Cabinet colleague David Mundell.
Mundell, who has decided to stay on as Scotland Secretary despite his concerns over the draft Brexit deal, took a swipe at Raab who quit as Brexit Secretary this morning. Here’s the clip.
“I’m not taking lessons on standing up for the United Kingdom from carpetbaggers. Only a couple of years ago, Dominic Raab was proposing to introduce a bill of rights into Scotland that would have overridden the Scottish legal system and devolution. So I’m not impressed by his latter-day commitment to the union. I’m sure this is more about maneuvring and leadership.”
Ouch.
12:15 PM: May prepared to fight no-confidence vote
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Theresa May would fight a leadership challenge, her spokesperson has just said.
In order for there to be a leadership contest, 48 Conservative MPs would first need to send letters to Graham Brady, chairman of the party’s 1922 committee. If this happens, Conservative MPs would then vote whether to hold a leadership contest. If fewer than 158 Conservative MPs voted to support May, then a contest would take place.
If this happened, May would fight to keep her job, her spokesperson said.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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