Jo Johnson ‘torn between family loyalty and the national interest’

‘If even your brother is deserting you it is a very bad sign of things to come’

JO JOHNSON told his brother he was resigning from his government yesterday morning after arriving to work as usual, The Daily Telegraph understands.

Mr Johnson, who voted Remain in the EU referendum, said he was “torn between family loyalty and the national interest”. Minutes after calling his brother, Mr Johnson announced on Twitter he was quitting his role as Universities Minister and stepping down as MP for Orpington.

He had not informed the Secretaries of State of the two departments he worked for, or officials in Downing Street. Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, found out about Mr Johnson’s decision from his Twitter post.

A source close to Mr Williamson told The Daily Telegraph: “Nobody knew in advance. It was a shock.”

He added that universities minister “was the portfolio he [Jo] wanted. He is liked and respected in the sector and had a big speech lined up next week.”

Another source, who spoke to Jo Johnson yesterday morning shortly before he quit, said: “He looked glum – he had obviously made up his mind but he did not tell me.” Meanwhile, a Tory MP who was in the Commons when news of the resignation broke said: “There were gasps of surprise from the benches.”

MPS said Boris Johnson’s decision to strip 21 rebel MPS of the party whip was the “trigger” for his brother. One Tory MP said: “It reinforces the sense moderates are leaving the party and that the Johnson premiership is in trouble. If even your brother is deserting you it is a very bad sign of things to come.”

Yesterday the Prime Minister said his brother “does not agree with me about the European Union because it’s an issue that obviously divides families and divides everybody”.