Boris Johnson quits over Brexit
Boris Johnson has left his job as the UK Foreign Secretary. He quit after Prime Minister Theresa May and her Cabinet (a group of the most senior ministers in the Government) announced its plans for Britain’s future relationship with the European Union (EU) after it leaves – a process known as Brexit. The EU is a group of 28 countries that work together.
What happened?
On 6 July, May and her Cabinet met at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s official country home. They discussed the Brexit plan they will present to the EU. They came up with a plan that would mean that the UK would continue to have a close relationship with the EU. On 8 July, Brexit Secretary David Davis, whose job was to discuss the plan with the EU, announced he could not support it and quit the Cabinet. The following afternoon, Johnson also resigned.
What did the Cabinet agree?
May and her officials decided that they wanted to keep the free-trade agreement with the EU. This means that there would be no tariffs (a tax, or charge that must be paid to a government) on any products being brought into the UK from the EU, or into the EU from the UK. This would be part of a “common rulebook” to make sure the two sides can still trade with each other easily. May also wants to keep a close relationship with the European Court of Justice, which decides on legal matters for EU countries. This is not the final Brexit deal, however; it still needs to be discussed with the EU, and they might not agree to it.
Why did Johnson resign?
Johnson wants the UK to break free from the EU completely and make its own rules. It was reported that Johnson had said the plan was not good enough and called it an “absolute stinker” of a deal. He also said that trying to make it sound good would be “like trying to polish a turd (poo)”.
What was the reaction?
Speaking to Members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons, May defended the plan and said it was the right deal for the UK. She announced that Jeremy Hunt, who used to be in charge of the National Health Service, would become the new Foreign Secretary. Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour Party, said the resignations showed the Government was in trouble.