Work and Pensions secretary Esther McVey has quit government, saying the Brexit deal ‘does not honour the result of the referendum’.
In a resignation letter, McVey cited concerns over the future of the Union and a lack of control over money, law, borders and trade policy under a deal she felt kept the UK too close to Brussels.
The Tatton MP wrote: ‘The British people have always been ahead of politicians on this issue, and it will be no good trying to pretend to them that this deal honours the result of the referendum when it is obvious to everyone that it doesn’t.
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‘We have gone from no deal is better than a bad deal, to any deal is better than no deal.
‘I cannot defend this, and I cannot vote for this deal. I could not look my constituents in the eye were I to do that.
‘I therefore have no alternative but to resign from the government.’
Her walkout comes hot on the heels of Brexit secretary Dominic Raab’s resignation and Northern Ireland junior minister Shailesh Vara quit.
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