Prime Minister Theresa May is now almost certainly on the verge of being ousted in a Ministerial coup following the resignation of a Junior Cabinet Minister earlier this morning, and now the major blow of her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigning from the Cabinet in protest at her controversial Brexit deal proposal.
Theresa May’s first Cabinet resignation of the day saw Shailesh Vara, the Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office, quit the Cabinet at around 07:00.
But, writing on Twitter just minutes ago, the now former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab dealt a potentially fatal blow to the Prime Minister’s premiership, wrote:
“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.”
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
Whilst Vara wrote:
“With much sadness and regret I have submitted my letter of resignation as a Northern Ireland Minister to the Prime Minister. A copy of my letter is attached. It has been a joy and privilege to serve in the Northern Ireland Office and I will always cherish the fondest memories.”
With much sadness and regret I have submitted my letter of resignation as a Northern Ireland Minister to the Prime Minister. A copy of my letter is attached.
It has been a joy and privilege to serve in the Northern Ireland Office and I will always cherish the fondest memories. pic.twitter.com/SN8j4OwhYD— Shailesh Vara MP (@ShaileshVara) November 15, 2018
Suffering two Cabinet resignations in short succession strongly indicates that an organised coup may now be in motion against the Prime Minister, and that we should expect more Cabinet resignations in the coming minutes and hours.
Furthermore, a vote of no Confidence against Theresa May is now almost certain to occur in the very near future.
Numerous Conservative MPs have indicated that they believe the Chairman of the highly influential Tory 1922 Committee, Graham Brady, has now received the requisite 48 letters that would trigger a secret ballot of Tory MPs to vote on the Prime Minister’s future.
Were Theresa May to lose the support of more than half of her MPs, a leadership challenge would follow.
Despite suffering two major resignations which have left her on the brink of catastrophe, Theresa May is still expected to address the House of Commons at 10:30 this morning.
