Chris Heaton-Harris: Brexit minister resigns in protest at Theresa May delaying Article 50

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Chris Heaton-Harris
Chris Heaton-Harris has become the second Conservative minister to resign

Chris Heaton-Harris has become the second Conservative minister to resign within hours after Theresa May’s offer to hold Brexit talks with Jeremy Corbyn, saying he could not accept an extension to Article 50.

 Chris Heaton-Harris
Brexit Minister Chris Heaton-Harris resignation letter

Theresa May has been hit by a ministerial resignation as she prepares to hold talks with Jeremy Corbyn, which the Government accepts are likely to lead to a “softer” Brexit.

Wales minister and whip Nigel Adams said the Prime Minister had made a “grave error” by reaching out to the Labour leader in the hope of finding a consensus solution to Brexit ahead of a crunch EU summit on 10 April.

Mrs May announced her dramatic move after a marathon session of Cabinet at which a number of ministers are understood to have argued for a no-deal EU withdrawal next week.

In his letter, Mr Adams said the Government faced two “great challenges” of delivering “the Brexit the people voted for” and preventing a Corbyn premiership. And he added: “Sadly, I fear that we are now at risk of simultaneously failing in both.” The Selby and Ainsty MP said: “Legitimising and turning to Jeremy Corbyn to assist you at this crucial stage, rather than being bold, is a grave error. “It is clear that we will now end up in the customs union. That is not the Brexit my constituents were promised and it is contrary to the pledge we made in our manifesto. It makes no sense to leave the EU and to have a situation where our trade policy and much of our law is made in Brussels with no say for the UK.”

Theresa May has been hit by a ministerial resignation as she prepares to hold talks with Jeremy Corbyn, which the Government accepts are likely to lead to a “softer” Brexit. Wales minister and whip Nigel Adams said the Prime Minister had made a “grave error” by reaching out to the Labour leader in the hope of finding a consensus solution to Brexit ahead of a crunch EU summit on 10 April.

Conservative MP Nigel Adams has resigned as a minister Mrs May announced her dramatic move after a marathon session of Cabinet at which a number of ministers are understood to have argued for a no-deal EU withdrawal next week.

He is the 35th member of the Government to resign in the past 12 months.

“It now seems that you and your Cabinet have decided that a deal cooked up with a Marxist who has never once in his political life put British interests first is better than no deal, “ he told the PM. “I profoundly disagree with this approach.” MP Nigel Adams

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