BREXIT QUITTERS
Brexit resignations – All the MPs who have resigned from Boris Johnson’s Conservative party
BORIS Johnson's leadership is under fire as a handful of MPs have left the Tories since he took over as Prime Minister.
As the Prime Minister no longer has a majority in the House of Commons and desperately tries to fend off measures aimed at blocking him from leaving the EU on October 31, we take a look at the MPs who’ve quit since he took power.
6
Amber Rudd
The arch-remainer resigned from her position as Work and Pensions Secretary in Boris Johnson's Cabinet over frustrations about Brexit.
She also accused the PM of pretending to pursue a deal with the EU.
Rudd said she could no longer stand by as “good, loyal, moderate Conservatives” are kicked out of the party.
In her resignation letter, Ms Rudd — a staunch Remainer — said she joined the Cabinet in good faith accepting that No Deal had to be on the table to help clinch improved departure terms.
But she wrote: "However, I no longer believe that leaving with a deal is the Government’s main objective."
She told the there were no "formal negotiations" taking place with the EU, just "conversations".
Ms Rudd said up to 90 per cent of government time was spent preparing for an "inferior" no-deal option.
Pals say she had become increasingly uneasy over the new PM’s hardline stance.
The final straw came when he expelled 21 senior MPs for siding with Labour to force him to abandon the threat of leaving without a deal and to delay Brexit at least until February.
Announcing her resignation, Ms Rudd accused the PM of an "assault on democracy".
She also gave an interview to the Sunday Times in which she claimed she had seen "no evidence" the government was seriously trying to get an EU deal.
6
Phillip Lee
Phillip Lee joined the Liberal Democrats after 27 years in the Conservative party on Tuesday, September 3, 2019.
The outspoken MP for Bracknell made the move during an address made by Boris Johnson in Parliament.
Announcing his defection he said "the party I joined in 1992 is not the Party I am leaving today".
In a statement he took a blast at Mr Johnson, saying: "This Conservative Government is aggressively pursuing a damaging Brexit in unprincipled ways.
"It is putting lives and livelihoods at risk unnecessarily and is endangering the integrity of the UK. It is using political manipulation, bullying and lies.”
Dr Lee was born and raised in Buckinghamshire and studied human biology and biological anthropology at King's College London, then Keble College, Oxford.
He also studied medicine at Imperial College London and is a qualified doctor.
He resigned as a justice minister to back a second referendum.
6
Sarah Wollaston
Sarah Wollaston, 57, has been the MP for Totnes in Devon since 2010 and was elected as a Conservative but quit over Brexit in February 2019.
In August she revealed she is joining the Liberal Democrats - her third political party of the year.
She resigned from the Conservatives over its handling of Brexit in February before joining Labour defectors in Change UK.
The MP is fiercely against Brexit and has campaigned for a second referendum.
She warned the Tories were "in the grip" of the DUP and Brexiteer Tories in the European Research Group.
Dr Wollaston was born in Woking, Surrey and studied medicine at London's Guy's hospital, qualifying in 1986.
She worked as a junior paediatrician before training as a GP.
Since 2017 she has also been chair of the powerful liaison committee, made up of the chairs of the 32 select committees.
Dr Wollaston met her husband, psychiatrist Adrian James, at medical school and the couple have three children.
6
Justine Greening
Former cabinet minister Justine Greening, 49, has announced she is to stand down as an MP at the next election.
She campaigned for Remain in 2016 and has called for a second referendum.
Announcing her decision to stand down in an interview with the BBC, she said a "far better way" of resolving the situation was to offer a referendum on the "different options for Brexit".
David Cameron brought her into his front bench team in 2009 as shadow minister for London.
The following year she became Economic Secretary to the Treasury, and a year after that she was promoted to Transport Secretary.
She then served four years as International Development Secretary.
When Theresa May took over in Downing Street in July 2016 she promoted Ms Greening to Education Secretary. She was also Minister for Women and Equalities.
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In January 2018 she quit the government after refusing a move to the Work and Pensions brief as part of a reshuffle.
Greening went to a comprehensive school in Rotherham and qualified as an accountant before entering politics.
In June 2016 she revealed she was in a same-sex relationship.
6
Jo Johnson
Boris Johnson's younger brother has quit as Tory MP after being "torn between family loyalty and the national interest."
The 47-year-old former Financial Times journalist entered politics in 2010 when he became the MP for Orpington.
He said he was "torn between family loyalty and the national interest” but said there was an "unresolvable tension".
From April 2013 to May 2015, he was the Head of the Number 10 Policy Unit, and became Minister of State for the Cabinet Office in July 2014.
Following the May 2015 general election, Jo Johnson became the Minister for Universities and Science.
He served as the Minister for London in Theresa May's government.
In January 2018, he became the Minister of State for the Department of Transport until his resignation on November 9, 2018 over Mrs May's Brexit deal.
He is married to Guardian journalist Amelia Gentleman, and they have two children.
6
Claire Perry
Claire Perry became the latest to send Tory Election planning into turmoil by saying she will not contest her Devizes constituency – a plumb Lib Dem target – in any upcoming snap poll.
Former Energy Minister Ms Perry turned down a Cabinet post under Boris Johnson and instead chose to champion efforts to bring the global Cop26 green conference to Britain.
She was seen as a ‘Remain’ rebel under Theresa May but once more today defended Mr Johnson.
She said: “I have been clear that I remain in full support of our PM and his brave Brexit strategy.
“As I can see no alternative if we want to honour the Referendum result.”
Former Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and London Minister Nick Hurd also announced they wouldn’t stand in the Election.
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