Minister quits as May aims to force new vote

George Eustice calls vote on Article 50 extension the ‘final humiliation’ for PM’S handling of Brexit

The Government suffered a fresh blow last night as George Eustice, a longserving agriculture minister, resigned in protest at Theresa May’s decision to give MPS the chance to delay Brexit. He was immediately praised by Boris Johnson for being “brave and right”. Mr Eustice quit amid speculation that Mrs May is planning to force MPS to vote on her Brexit deal on Wednesday. This would leave time for another vote on March 12 – the deadline for getting her deal through Parliament.

THERESA MAY’S credibility suffered a fresh blow last night as another minister quit over her Brexit plans – and was immediately praised by Boris Johnson for being “brave and right”.

George Eustice, a long-serving agriculture minister, resigned in protest at the Prime Minister’s decision this week to give MPS the chance to delay Brexit.

He left the Government amid fevered speculation in Westminster that Mrs May is planning to force MPS to vote on her Brexit deal next Wednesday. Whips have told MPS they can be away from Parliament on Monday and Tuesday and be ready for the vote on Wednesday, The Daily Telegraph has been told. This would leave time for another vote on Tuesday, March 12 – the deadline she has set herself for getting her deal through Parliament.

The whips’ plans are contingent on Geoffrey Cox, the Attorney General, approving a legal codicil which, The Telegraph understands, will say that the controversial Northern Ireland backstop can be brought to an end by the UK or the EU using an independent arbiter.

Mr Eustice is the 12th minister and 27th MP to quit over Mrs May’s handling of Brexit. He told the Prime Minister during a phone call yesterday that he was planning to resign. It came after a meeting both he and she attended on Tuesday, when concerns were raised among Brexit-supporting ministers that any delay could last two years.

In his resignation letter, Mr Eustice said the Prime Minister’s decision to let MPS vote on extending Article 50 was the “final humiliation” for Britain. He said while he had remained loyal through a “series of rather undignified retreats”, he feared the latest move would result in the “EU dictating the terms of any extension requested”. Mr Eustice, who campaigned to leave during the lead-up to the 2016 referendum, said Mrs May had been “terribly undermined” by MPS who had refused to “respect the referendum result”.

However, he said he could not remain in a Government that could shift to opposing no-deal. “We cannot negotiate a successful Brexit unless we are prepared to walk,” he said. “What our country needs from all its political leaders at this critical juncture is courage and we are about to find out whether Parliament has it. If the position of Parliament is now that we will refuse to leave without an agreement then we are somewhat stuck. We must therefore have the courage, if necessary, to reclaim our freedom first and talk afterwards. We must be ready to face down the EU here and now.”

Mr Johnson, the former foreign secretary, wrote on Twitter: “George Eustice is brave and right – and his superb letter to the PM shows that no deal may yet be the best option for the UK.”

Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, added that Mr Eustice had been “a brilliant minister and will remain a dear friend”. He added: “He will be very much missed.”

In reply, Mrs May said: “Parliament must now come together and honour the referendum result by voting for a deal which will give businesses and citizens the certainty they need and deserve. Our absolute focus should be on getting a deal that can command support in Parliament and leaving on March 29. It is within our grasp and I am grateful to have your support.”

Separately, ministers have ordered TV adverts to warn people to prepare for no-deal after a radio campaign flopped.