Boris Johnson latest to resign over Brexit plan

Boris Johnson has become the third senior Conservative party member to resign in the past 24 hours, putting the pressure on Theresa May.

Following the all-day meeting at Chequers on Friday, Brexiteers David Davis, Steve Baker and Johnson have all walked out rather than supporting the prime minister’s soft-Brexit deal.

“This afternoon, the prime minister accepted the resignation of Boris Johnson as foreign secretary. His replacement will be announced shortly. The prime minister thanks Boris for his work,” said a spokesperson from Downing Street.

Shortly after the Chequers summit, it emerged that Johnson referred to Theresa May’s Brexit plan as ‘polishing a turd’.

Earlier on Monday, Davis resigned and called May’s proposal for a UK-EU free trade area governed by a “common rule book”, “hands control of large swathes of our economy to the EU and is certainly not returning control of our laws in any real sense”.

He was shortly replaced by Dominic Raab. Raab is currently housing minister and was also a prominent Leave campaigner in during the referendum.

It is unclear if other senior party members will also decline following the Friday meeting.

“Theresa May’s government is in meltdown. This is complete and utter chaos,” said Labour’s deputy prime minister, Tom Watson.

“The country is at a standstill with a divided and shambolic government. This prime minister can’t deliver Brexit and has zero authority left,” he added.

The latest resignations come just days before Donald Trump is due to meet the prime minister on his official trip to London.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators are expected to march in London and across the UK during his trip, which will take place on July 13.

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Safiya focuses on business and political stories for UK Investor Magazine. Her interests include international development, travel and politics.