David Gauke to quit government if Boris Johnson wins race to be PM

Justice secretary David Gauke. Photograph: David Gauke/Twitter - Credit: Archant

Justice Secretary David Gauke will quit the government on Wednesday if Boris Johnson becomes prime minister.

Gauke, who has served in Theresa May’s Cabinet since she took office in June 2016, said he would not be able to serve under the former foreign secretary if he pursues a no-deal Brexit.

As the Tory leadership contest enters its final 48 hours, the prominent no-deal critic told the Sunday Times that crashing out of the European Union would lead to national “humiliation”.

And Gauke said: “Given that I’ve been in the Cabinet since Theresa May came to power, I think the appropriate thing is for me to resign to her.”

He added: “If the test of loyalty to stay in the Cabinet is a commitment to support no-deal on October 31 – which, to be fair to him, Boris has consistently said – then that’s not something I’m prepared to sign up to.

“I recognise that this spell in government is coming to an end.”

The paper also reported that up to six Tory MPs are considering defecting to the Liberal Democrats should Johnson beat his rival Jeremy Hunt and enter Number 10 – leaving him with no majority in the Commons.

The ballot for the Tory leadership race will close tomorrow, with the result announced on Tuesday.

Johnson, who is widely predicted to win the contest, has reportedly been secretly wooed by European politicians and officials in a bid to thrash out a new Brexit plan to avoid a no-deal exit, the Sunday Times reported.

It said figures from Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands had established contact with the frontrunner’s team and signalled their intention to do a deal.

Work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd, a former Remainer, urged her Tory colleagues to back whoever wins the contest.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she said: “Just as the Conservative Party came together after that EU referendum, it must now come together again no matter who wins.

“I know many of my colleagues have strong feelings but a new prime minister will get a new hearing in the European Union and I hope everyone can unite behind that.

“If we don’t, the alternative could be Corbyn for Christmas.”

Her comments came after Chancellor Philip Hammond fired a warning shot to Johnson, saying he would do “everything in my power” to block a no-deal Brexit and left open the possibility of voting to bring down a Conservative government in such an event.