BORIS QUITS AS UK FOREIGN SECY OVER BREXIT
London, July 9: Theresa May’s future as British Prime Minister on Monday was in great turmoil as a second Cabinet minister, foreign secretary Boris Johnson resigned, hours after her Brexit minister David Davis quit, amid a growing political crisis over the UK’s strategy to leave the European Union.
Mr Johnson, the poster boy in the Cabinet for pro-Brexit ministers, did not arrive at the Foreign Office near Downing Street on Monday morning, triggering speculation over further trouble ahead for the embattled British Prime Minister.
It had been widely reported that Mr Johnson was not supportive of May's latest Brexit plans, thrashed out at a crucial meeting last Friday.
London, July 9: British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson resigned on Monday in a major blow for Prime Minister Theresa May, hours after her Brexit minister stepped down over her plans for leaving the European Union.
"This afternoon, the Prime Minister accepted the resignation of Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary," May's Downing Street office said in a statement.
"His replacement will be announced shortly. The prime minister thanks Boris for his work," the statement said.
In private, Johnson had reportedly criticised May's plan for retaining strong economic ties to the EU even after Brexit, referring to the plan as "polishing a turd".
Since cabinet approval for the plan on Friday, however, he had refrained from public comment.
He was due to co-host a summit on the Western Balkans in London on Monday but did not show up.
Germany's junior foreign minister Michael Roth tweeted: "We're still waiting for our host". Brexit talks Earlier, May insisted she was focused on negotiations with the EU after David Davis, her Brexit minister and his deputy dramatically quit.
Downing Street swiftly appointed eurosceptic housing minister Dominic Raab to Davis’s job, and said May was looking forward to working with him to deliver Britain’s departure from the EU in March.
The resignation of Davis, with a stinging warning that Britain was “giving too much away too easily” in Brexit talks, was a blow to May just days after she declared a truce among her warring ministers.
All eyes are now on the next move by Brexit hardliners in her Conservative party, who hailed Davis and his deputy Steve Baker for quitting, amid speculation of a possible leadership challenge.
But the appointment of Raab, a leading Brexit supporter, suggests they are divided, while reports that another of Davis’ deputies, Suella Braverman, had also quit were denied.
Davis himself said it would be “wrong” if his departure led to a fullfledged rebellion, saying that “of course” May would survive. Proposal May will address parliament later to explain her proposal for Britain to adopt EU rules on goods after Brexit, and is also expected to speak to Conservative MPs.
The plan was agreed by cabinet ministers during marathon talks on Friday, where even those wanting a clean break from the EU fell into line. The deal meant that for the first time since the vote for Brexit in June 2016, Britain has a detailed proposal to take to Brussels, and still hopes to agree a deal by October.
May’s spokesman told reporters: “There was an agreement reached on Friday and we look forward to taking that agreement forward in negotiations.”