UK Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson Resigns

Jeremy Hunt takes over

British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, yesterday resigned in a major blow for Prime Minister Theresa May, hours after her Brexit minister stepped down over her plans for leaving the EU.

“This afternoon, the Prime Minister accepted the resignation of Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary,” May’s Downing Street office said in a statement.

However, Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has been named as the new foreign secretary.

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.”

Culture Secretary Matt Hancock replaced Hunt as health secretary, as Theresa May carries out a reshuffle of her top team.

Attorney General, Jeremy Wright, is the new culture secretary.

The prime minister is attempting to shore up her position after a day of turmoil over her Brexit plan.

Johnson claimed in his resignation letter that Mrs May’s approach would lead to a “semi-Brexit” and leave Britain a “colony” of the EU.

Mrs May said she was “sorry - and a little surprised” by Johnson’s move after his apparent support on Friday, when ministers held talks at Chequers.

She said the deal agreed by the cabinet after their “productive discussions” would “honour the result of the referendum” and allow the UK to “take back control of our borders, our law and our money.”