‘Torn’ Jo Johnson quits as tensions rise

BORIS Johnson suffered a severe blow yesterday after his brother dramatically quit as universities minister and MP.

Jo Johnson said he was “torn between family loyalty and the national interest”.

Tory rebel Dame Caroline Spelman also announced she was standing down at the next election, as did Northern Ireland minister Nick Hurd.

It is understood that the Prime Minister made an emotional late-night plea to his younger brother to reconsider.

But Jo, 47, pressed ahead and said: “In recent weeks I’ve been torn between family loyalty and the national interest – it’s an unresolvable tension and time for others to take on my roles as MP and minister.”

He later applauded the Government’s “One Nation domestic policy agenda: more police on the streets, more doctors and nurses in our hospitals, a welcoming face to scientists and international students”.

Last night Boris admitted his brother “does not agree with me about the European Union because it’s an issue that obviously divides families and divides everybody”.

The brothers’ sister, Rachel, said this week that “the family avoids the topic of Brexit especially at meals as we don’t want to gang up on the PM!”

Orpington MP Jo is a Remainer who quit from Theresa May’s government, accusing her of bungling negotiations with the EU and called for a second referendum.

He backed his brother’s campaign to be Tory leader and signed up to the “do or die” pledge to leave the EU by Halloween when he joined the Cabinet in July. However, he was rumoured to have turned down a more senior role.

Dame Caroline said that “the time has come for a new person to represent the interests of Meriden in a new Parliament which will be dominated by the consequences of Brexit”.

Sajid Javid yesterday insisted Tory Remainers including Ken Clarke and Philip Hammond who joined the revolt to rule out no-deal can be brought back into the party.

The Chancellor said the Prime Minister had no choice but to strip the whip from the 21 Conservative MPs but hoped they would return to the fold “at some point”.

The PM is facing growing disquiet among his own ranks. Tory MP Simon Hoare said: “We can’t win unless our base is broad and representative of all strands of opinion... No 10 needs to rethink and fast.”