Esther McVey has quit the government. The Work and Pensions Secretary has long known to be unhappy with Theresa May’s Brexit policy and at yesterday’s Cabinet pushed repeatedly for a vote, so she could register her objection to the withdrawal agreement. Having been denied that vote, she realised that the only way a Cabinet Minister can really show that they oppose a policy is by resigning—and has done so this morning.
McVey’s resignation is less of a blow to May than Raab’s; most Tory MPs were expecting her to go at some point. But it adds to the sense of crisis surrounding the government this morning.
In total, four ministers have quit the government so far this morning—Suella Braverman, a junior DEXEU Minister, and Shailesh Vara have also gone. All of this adds to the sense that this deal can’t pass first time round without wholesale Labour support.
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