NO. 10? SIGN ME UP!
Boris Johnson smirks as he signs resignation letter as Jacob Rees-Mogg says he’d be a ‘brilliant’ PM
BORIS Johnson could hold Theresa May's fate in his hands today - as he weighs up whether or not to launch a leadership challenge.
The smirking ex-Foreign Secretary posed for pictures as he signed his letter of resignation last night, hours after David Davis also quit the Cabinet.
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Boris - who's been replaced by Jeremy Hunt - hired photographer Andrew Parsons, who used to work for David Cameron, to capture the moment he formally resigned.
The highly unusual photoshoot is reminiscent of US President Donald Trump, who stages pictures every time he signs a document.
Top Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg last night backed Mr Johnson, saying he would make a “brilliant” Prime Minister.
Mrs May could now face a leadership challenge after some Tory MPs said they would formally request a vote of confidence in her.
Latest updates on Theresa May's political crisis:
- David Davis and Boris Johnson have quit the Cabinet, followed by three junior frontbenchers
- Jeremy Hunt is the new Foreign Secretary and Dominic Raab has been made Brexit Secretary
- Theresa May has vowed to fight any bid by Brexiteerss to force her out of office as two MPs formally demanded a vote of no confidence
- Leave-backing minister Andrea Leadsom called on the rebels to rally round the PM
- Mrs May today summoned her new-look Cabinet and will later hold talks with Angela Merkel
- Tory backbenchers say they have just two weeks to shoot down her controversial Chequers plans
- Donald Trump suggested he backs Boris over the PM - calling the top Brexiteer a "friend"
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Boris Johnson leaves Foreign Secretary's residence after resigning from Theresa May's cabinet over Brexit
This morning she appeared safe in the short term as the majority of backbenchers fell short of demanding a change of leadership.
Senior Brexiteers including Liam Fox and Michael Gove also pledged loyalty to her and said they were "absolutely not" going to quit.
But Boris could change all that if he publicly calls for Mrs May to go and puts himself forward as her replacement.
In his resignation letter, Mr Johnson refused to say whether or not he wants Mrs May to continue in office - raising the prospect that he could seek to topple her as soon as this week.
He had previously dismissed her Brexit plan, agreed by ministers at Chequers, as a "big turd".
In the bombshell two-page letter, Mr Johnson accused Mrs May of reducing Britain to the status of an EU “colony”.
He told the PM he could not carry on as Foreign Secretary as he could no longer sing her song.
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He added: “I have practised the words over the weekend and I find that they stick in the throat”.
While insisting Brexit should “be about opportunity and hope”, under the current PM, “the dream is dying, suffocated by needless self-doubt”, Boris wrote.
He wrote: “We have postponed crucial decisions — including the preparations for no deal — with the result that we appear to be heading for a semi-Brexit, with large parts of the economy still locked in the EU system, but with no UK control over that system”.
The letter was lacking the traditional declaration of loyalty and thanks to the Prime Minister for giving him the opportunity to serve in the Cabinet.
Responding to Mr Johnson’s letter, the PM said she was "surprised" by Boris' decision given his apparent support for her at Chequers.
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Michael Gove says he's '100 percent' behind Theresa May's Brexit plan and has no desire to resign himself
In her icy reply, Mrs May wrote: "I am sorry - and a little surprised - to receive it after the productive discussions we had at Chequers on Friday, and the comprehensive and detailed proposal which we agreed as a Cabinet."
She added: "As we developed our policy on Brexit, I have allowed Cabinet colleagues considerable latitute to express their individual views.
"But the agreement we reached on Friday marks the point where that is no longer the case, and if you are not able to provide the support we need to secure this deal in the interests of the United Kingdom, it is right that you should step down."
Boris was mocked by opposition MPs for posing as he signed the document - Lib Dem Layla Moran said: "This staged resignation photograph is pathetic. This man is a poundshop Churchill impressionist."
Labour's Wes Streeting added: "It’s always all about Boris Johnson with him."
And Jeremy Corbyn's deputy Tom Watson joked: "I look at that guy Boris Johnson, he's got a career ahead of him on Love Yourself Island.
"He's the only politician in history who posed while signing his own resignation letter, that tells you everything you need to know about him."
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Last night, members of the hardline European Research Group - chaired by Mr Rees-Mogg - vowed to kill off Mrs May's Brexit proposals within the next two weeks.
But most suggested they wouldn't launch a bid to unseat the PM unless Boris signalled support for the move.
One ex-minister said: "With Boris Johnson resigning today, I think the reality is Boris is a sufficiently senior figure that what happens next depends largely on Boris Johnson."
Andrew Bridgen said they needed to act before Parliament goes on holiday in a fortnight, saying: "The longer we have this damaging policy the more we will haemorrhage support at the next election.
"This has got to be killed and it's got to be killed before recess."
Mr Bridgen is one of two MPs who have publicly called for Mrs May to quit - he said in a letter that her Brexit plans are "a pretence and a charade intended to dupe the electorate".
But Steve Baker, who quit as a Brexit Minister alongside David Davis, told colleagues to be careful about pushing the Government too far.
He said: "I'm worried we could cheer our way right across the abyss. I would urge caution. The problem is this is an uphill struggle to change agreed Cabinet policy. It's going to be hard."
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Theresa May addresses the Commons following David Davis's and Boris Johnson's resignations from the Cabinet
Mrs May summoned her new-look Cabinet for its first meeting this morning in a bid to show the Government is united.
After the Downing Street get-together she tweeted: "Productive Cabinet meeting this morning - looking ahead to a busy week. And sending our best wishes to @England for tomorrow!"
Ministers discussed the need to step up preparations for a No Deal Brexit, in case talks with the EU end up collapsing altogether.
It is claimed the PM and Boris had a series of “big rows” in the days leading up to the now infamous Chequers meeting.
According one friend of Mr Johnson said: “They were properly shouting at each other.”
Mr Johnson is understood to have taken the decision to resign on Saturday morning when he was asked to put his name to a newspaper article backing Mrs May’s Brexit plans.
The reports he told one friend “I can’t put my name to this”, at which point he realised he needed to stand down.
The double resignation raises the prospect of a coup – with the Telegraph claiming other ministers were “lined up” to resign one-by-one until the PM drops her plans.
During a meeting last night of the 1922 Committee one MP told her: “The 17million people who voted to leave would feel betrayed, and they feel strongly about that.”
Further pressure came from backbenchers with reports suggesting a revolt was on the cards with some openly calling for her to leave.
How Theresa May could be ousted as PM - and a snap election may be on the cards
THERESA May faces the biggest threat to her premiership today as two Brexiteers quit at her Brexit strategy.
And if she can't get her MPs on board and backing the plan in the coming days, a Tory leadership contest could be on the cards - or even ANOTHER general election.
If 48 MPs hand in letters of no confidence into the party chairman, Graham Brady, he has to call a vote on her leadership.
It's not currently known how many MPs have already put theirs in, but there have been reports that only a few more are needed before it takes them over the edge.
That would trigger a vote of no confidence in her leadership - Mrs May needs to get half of all Tory MPs to back her or a fresh leadership challenge will have be fought.
Anyone can then stand against her as leader - but the Tory members have the final say in a vote once it's whittled down to two candidates by MPs.
Last time the procedure was needed, Iain Duncan Smith was ousted as Tory boss back in 2003.
If Mrs May manages to hang on, however, she could face the boot in the form of a General Election.
Due to the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, Britain now only goes to the polls every five years.
But if two thirds of all MPs vote for an election, then Brits could have to vote for the third time in just three years.
A senior Tory recently told The Sunday Times that Mrs May would be happy if she had the support of half of her MPs. He said: “Theresa thinks that if there is a vote of no confidence she has to win by only one vote.
“It’s effectively saying to people, ‘Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough.’”
If Mrs May wins a leadership vote - even by a slim margin - MPs can't call another vote of no confidence for at least 12 months.
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Andrea Jenkyns, the second Tory to issue a public demand for a leadership vote, that “backbench MPs won’t sit idly by and allow a so-called 'soft Brexit' with us being half-in, half-out.”
Another unnamed MP told the Daily Mail more Tories were writing to the 1922 Committee to trigger a no confidence motion.
The MP said: “It’s over now. She’s done. It would be good if it were done quickly. I want to know who will be standing against her.
“We need to establish a new government because this offer is indefensible.”
Despite the pressure, the head of the Committee insisted he hadn't received enough requests to trigger a vote of confidence in the party leader.
And Mrs May gave a defiant performance in the Commons minutes after Boris announced he was going, defending her Brexit strategy and vowing to fight on in the face of Tory rebels.
Sources in the government also told how Mrs May would fight any attempt to oust her.
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Mr Davis warned yesterday that the PM is pursuing a "dangerous strategy" in Brexit negotiations - but insisted he's not trying to force her out of power.
He announced his resignation just minutes before midnight with a devastating letter warning Mrs May her proposals, agreed last week at Chequers, would leave the UK in "a weak negotiating position" with Brussels.
He was replaced in the Cabinet by Dominic Raab, an arch-Brexiteer and close ally of Michael Gove who is currently serving as Housing Minister.
Boris followed up 15 hours later, after spending a day holed up with aides deciding whether or not to follow the Brexit Secretary's lead.
Downing Street announced last night that Jeremy Hunt, the longest serving Health Secretary in history, would be promoted to replace him at the Foreign Office, while Culture Secretary Matt Hancock moves to Health. Jeremy Wright, previously Attorney General, is the new Culture Secretary.
The PM also carried out moves among the lower ranks, making Boris Johnson’s key ally and ex-deputy London mayor Kit Malthouse the new housing minister.
Prominent Brexiteer Chris Heaton-Harris was promoted out of the whips office to become a junior Brexit minister, replacing Steve Baker who walked out with boss Mr Davis on Sunday.
Who has resigned from Theresa May’s Government?
David Davis
The Brexit Secretary stood down last night two days after the crunch Chequers summit, saying he thought the plan Theresa May had made the Cabinet sign off on was “giving too much away, too easily”, and calling it “a dangerous strategy”.
He said he had to step down as it would be his job for forcing the PM’s proposal through the Commons, adding: "That's not a tenable position for somebody who believes in Brexit."
Steve Baker
Mr Davis’ junior colleague at the Brexit Department, he stood down at the same time as his boss – also due to unhappiness over the Chequers agreement.
The hard-line Eurosceptic warned other MPs not to launch a leadership challenge to the PM by writing letters to Graham Brady.
He said: "There's no question of letters going in, no question of challenges - what we need is a change of policy, not to challenge the Prime Minister.”
Boris Johnson
The Foreign Secretary had not appeared in public since Friday’s Cabinet away-day to discuss the deal they had signed off on, sparking fears he was unhappy with the plan and could resign.
This afternoon No10 said he was leaving his role – which he confirmed in a withering letter to the Prime Minister, saying that under her the Brexit "dream is dying".
He plunged Mrs May further into a leadership crisis, saying she is waving the "white flags" in talks with Brussels.
Chris Green
The Bolton West MP became the fourth Brexiteer to resign, announcing he was standing down as a parliamentary aide to the Department for Transport and saying: "Brexit must mean Brexit."
Conor Burns
A Commons aide to Boris Johnson, he also quit this evening - writing on Twitter: "I want to see the referendum result respected."
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Urging unity last night, Mr Hunt said: "My principal job at a time of massive importance for our country is to stand four square behind the Prime Minister so that we can get through an agreement with the European Union based on what was agreed by the Cabinet last week at Chequers.
"This is a time when the world is looking at us as a country, wondering what type of country we are going to be in a post-Brexit world.
"What I want to say to them is Britain is going to be a dependable ally, a country that stands up for the values that matter to the people of this country, and will be a strong, confident voice in the world."
Today the PM’s former chief of staff Nick Timothy warns Mrs May her soft Brexit blueprint “leaves us with a giant democratic deficit” and “puts us at the mercy of European rulemakers”.
In his Sun column he also calls on all ministers to resist any more concessions to Brussels.
Hans-Olaf Henkel, a German MEP and businessman, said the EU should sack its negotiators in order to kickstart Brexit talks after Boris and Mr Davis quit.
He told The Sun: "British officials have in the past been often irritated by actual and perceived arrogance in particular by Brexit spokesman of the European Parliament Verhofstadt and Commissioner Barnier.
"Now that Davis and Johnson are gone in the UK, the European Parliament should also replace Barnier and Verhofstadt to be able to reach an atmosphere of mutual trust!"
Ladbrokes last night cut odds on a General Election this year to just 7/4.
Brussels should compromise with UK after Chequers, Airbus says
AIRBUS has piled pressure on Brussels to relent over its hardline approach to Brexit.
The aircraft giant called on Michel Barnier and EU capitals to pursue a "pragmatic and fair" deal with the UK.
Its boss Tom Enders told business leaders he was more optimistic about an agreement being struck following last week's Chequers breakthrough.
Speaking at the German-British Chambers of Commerce, he said: "The Chequers statement appears to show the Government are going in the right direction.
"We are not shy to request that Brussels and our other home countries are similarly pragmatic and fair.”
Airbus caused uproar last month when bosses warned the company would pull out of Britain in the event of a no deal Brexit.
Ministers furiously accused the manufacturer of making "threats" against the UK and said the warning was “completely inappropriate”.
Mr Enders' intervention will be seen as an attempt to redress the balance and show the company is not taking sides in the negotiations.
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Tory grandees warned the rebels against taking on Mrs May - claiming it would do more harm than good.
Ex-leader Michael Howard, a passionate Brexiteer, said: "Perhaps a degree of humility is called for all round, and I do think that it would be extremely foolish and extremely ill-advised for anyone to send in letters to mount a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister.
"I think, and I'm delighted, that good sense seems to be breaking out... I support Theresa May as Prime Minister, I want her to continue as Prime Minister."
Another former party boss, William Hague, added: "Being a romantic on this issue is all very well but is of no practical use to the country. It is an indulgence not a policy.
"The best way forward is to join Gove the realist in saying that the EU needs to respond with flexibility and generosity."
Ex-Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said a leadership vote was "the last thing we need at the moment".
Justice Secretary David Gauke also projected a message of unity - and blasted the rebels for not explaining what solution they'd like to replace the PM's plan.
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He told the BBC's Today programme: "If people don’t like this proposal - what is their alternative?"
But ex-minister Priti Patel criticised Mrs May for watering down her promises to the electorate.
She said: "We should be very honest and upfront, and say we are not going to be delivering the Brexit that we had in our manifesto that we were elected on last year."
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