Reuters/Neil Hall
Andrea Leadsom, a candidate to become the next Conservative Party leader and British prime minister, rules herself out of the leadership battle during a news conference in central London, Britain July 11, 2016.
Andrea Leadsom has resigned as leader of the House of Commons in protest over Theresa May's Brexit plans.
On Wednesday evening, the Conservative MP wrote to the Prime Minister to announce she was leaving the government over May's plans, which would entail a second referendum on leaving the European Union.
"I have always maintained that a second referendum would be dangerously divisive, and I do not support the Government willingly facilitating such a concession," she wrote in the letter, which she also shared on Twitter. "It would also risk undermining our Union which is something I passionately want to see strengthened."
The resignation is yet another blow to May's already-tenuous grasp on power, and comes ahead of the EU elections.
This story is developing...
Our Brexit Insider Facebook group is the best place for up-to-date news and analysis about Britain's departure from the EU, direct from Business Insider's political reporters. Join here.
It is with great regret and a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from the Government. pic.twitter.com/f2SOXkaqmH
- Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) May 22, 2019