Amber Rudd quits Cabinet and Conservative Party over Boris Johnson's handling of Brexit

Bonnie Christian8 September 2019
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Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd has quit the Cabinet and surrendered the Conservative whip in protest at Boris Johnson's handling of Brexit.

The Hastings and Rye MP said she "cannot stand by as good, loyal moderate conservatives are expelled" for defying the Government over Brexit.

She described the sacking of 21 Tory rebels on Tuesday as an "assault on decency and democracy".

The Prime Minister removed the whip from two former chancellors and Winston Churchill's grandson after they voted to give Opposition MPs control of the order paper and start the process of blocking a no-deal Brexit.

Ms Rudd tweeted: "I have resigned from Cabinet and surrendered the Conservative Whip.

"I cannot stand by as good, loyal moderate Conservatives are expelled.

"I have spoken to the PM and my Association Chairman to explain.

"I remain committed to the One Nation values that drew me into politics."

Ms Rudd supported Remain in the 2016 referendum.

In comments likely to reverberate across Westminster as it gears up for another tumultuous week, Ms Rudd said she thought a no-deal Brexit was now the Government's main aim.

Amber Rudd and Boris Johnson
Getty Images

The former home secretary was dogged by questions throughout the Tory leadership contest about whether she could serve in Mr Johnson's Cabinet if he won the race, given his strategy would involve keeping no-deal on the table during further negotiations with Brussels.

She accepted the offer of continuing in her job as work and pensions secretary when Mr Johnson formed his Cabinet in July but, in her letter of resignation, the now independent MP said, while she had accepted the need to keep no-deal as an option, said she "no longer believed leaving with a deal is the government's main objective".

Issuing forthright criticism of Mr Johnson, she called his decision to sack Tory rebels - such as ex-chancellor Philip Hammond, Churchill's grandson Sir Nicholas Soames and Ken Clarke, the longest serving MP in the commons - "an "assault on decent and democracy".

Ms Rudd, who was also minister for disabled people, added: "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."

Following her announcement, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage tweeted: Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage tweeted: "Why did Boris give ministerial posts to all these Remainers in the first place? Confused thinking to say the least."

Former Tory leadership hopeful Rory Stewart, who had the whip withdrawn earlier this week, tweeted: "Proud of Amber Rudd - a true One Nation Conservative - we must unite to support a Brexit deal and get this done."

While David Gauke, the former secretary of state for justice and lord chancellor, tweeted: "I'm sure this has not been an easy decision. But it is brave and principled and is all about putting the national interest first."

Leader of The Independent Group for Change, Anna Soubry, tweeted Rudd's resignation letter alongside the words: "At last. #respect."

Former Conservative MP and minister Nick Boles - who quit the party in April after his soft Brexit plan failed - tweeted: "Everyone has a point beyond which they cannot be pushed.

"Amber Rudd has reached hers. How much more of the party he inherited will Johnson destroy before he has second thoughts or is stopped by his Cabinet colleagues?"

Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, tweeted: "Johnson government falling apart. He's being totally found out..."

Ms Rudd has represented her constituency since 2010 and has one of the smallest majorities in the country, with only 346 votes separating her from her Labour rival in 2017.

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