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LONDON - Brexit secretary Dominic Raab has resigned in a dramatic blow to Theresa May's authority after saying he cannot "in good conscience" support the prime minister's plan for leaving the EU.
His resignation followed a gruelling Cabinet meeting yesterday at which the prime minister sought to persuade sceptical ministers to support her deal and sell it to backbench MPs. While she claimed she had won the support of Cabinet yesterday, at least 10 senior ministers were known to retain deep reservations over the draft plan for leaving the EU.
In a letter to the prime minister, Raab said that he "cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election," adding that it was a "matter of public trust."
He said that the proposed regulatory regime for Northern Ireland - a measure designed to avoid the emergence of a border - posed a "very real threat" to the integrity of the United Kingdom, and said he could not support an "indefinite backstop agreement" where the EU could veto the UK's ability to exit.
This is a developing story.
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Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. Here is my letter to the PM explaining my reasons, and my enduring respect for her. pic.twitter.com/tf5CUZnnUz
- Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) November 15, 2018