Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd has resigned from the Government, saying she cannot stand by while loyal Tories are kicked out of the party.
Ms Rudd, 56, says she no longer believes getting a deal from the EU is Boris Johnson’s main objective.
Her resignation comes days after 21 rebel Conservatives lost the whip after voting against the Government in a key Brexit vote that ended in humiliation for the Prime Minister.
The MP for Hastings and Rye – who barely held onto her seat at the last general election – isn’t quitting politics, as she says she will now run as an independent conservative.
Here is the resignation letter in full.
(Image: REUTERS)
“It is with great sadness that I am resigning as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Minister for Women and Equalities.
“It has been an honour to serve in a department that supports millions of people and can be such a force for good. I would like to pay tribute to the thousands of people who work for the DWP across the country.
“They are committed public servants and I am proud of the work that we have done together over the last 10 months to create a more compassionate welfare system.
“I would also like to thank you and the Chancellor of the Exchequer for your support in the recent Spending Review.
“I am so pleased that you committed to spend millions more supporting the most vulnerable in society, and I hope that the Government will stay committed to going further at the next fiscal event, building on the work the department has done.
“This has been a difficult decision.
“I joined your Cabinet in good faith; accepting that ‘no deal’ had to be on the table, because it was the means by which we would have the best chance of achieving a new deal to leave on October 31.
“However, I no longer believe leaving with a deal is the Government’s main objective.
“The Government is expending a lot of energy to prepare for ‘no deal’ but I have not seen the same level of intensity go into our talks with the European Union, who have asked us to present alternative arrangements to the Irish backstop.
“The updates I have been grateful to receive from your office have not, regretfully, provided me with the reassurances I sought.
“I must also address the assault on decency and democracy that took place last week when you sacked 21 talented, loyal One Nation Conservatives.
“This short-sighted culling of my colleagues has stripped the party of broad-minded and dedicated Conservative MPs I cannot support this act of political vandalism.
“Therefore, it is with regret that I am also surrendering the Conservative whip.
“Britain’s body politic is under attack from both sides of the ideological debate. I will now play whatever role I can to help return it to a better place.
“I have been lucky to have had extraordinary support from my Conservative Association since I was adopted as their candidate in 2006. Three times they helped elect me as their MP, keeping Labour at bay through nail-biting campaigns.
“I remain a proud conservative and will continue to champion the values of fairness and compassion, and to support my constituents of Hastings and Rye.
“Yours Sincerely,
“Amber Rudd.”
