Agriculture minister George Eustice has quit the government over Theresa May’s decision to allow MPs the chance to delay Brexit.
In his resignation letter released on Thursday, the MP for Camborne and Redruth said any extension of Article 50 would lead to the “final humiliation of our country”.
The prime minister announced earlier this week that MPs would be allowed to vote in favour of either a no-deal Brexit or delaying exit day if they choose to again reject her deal.
Eustice, who campaigned for ‘Leave’ during the referendum, said he would vote for the PM’s deal when it is put to the Commons in March.
But he said the UK must have the “courage” to leave the EU without an agreement in order to “reclaim our freedom”.
“We must be ready to face down the European Union here and now. The absence of an agreement poses risks and costs for them too,” he said.
“I have stuck with the government through a series of rather undignified retreats.
“However, I fear that developments this week will lead to a sequence of events culminating in the EU dictating the terms of any extension requested and the final humiliation of our country.”
MPs are due to vote on the PM’s revised Brexit deal by March 12. If it is rejected they will then have the chance to back a no-deal Brexit on March 13. If this is rejected as expected, the Commons will then vote on March 14 whether to delay Brexit.
May has said she wants the UK to leave the EU on March 29 as planned - but the decision could now be taken out of her hands.
It comes as Jeremy Corbyn formally committed himself to throwing Labour’s weight behind a second referendum.
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has confirmed the party will ask MPs to back a public vote by March 12.