Categories: Politics

Boris Johnson just resigned over Brexit talks. Prime Minister Theresa May could be in trouble.

The British foreign secretary, a “hard Brexit” provocateur, is helping generate a crisis in May’s cabinet. 

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has resigned from the government to protest Prime Minister Theresa May’s plans for a “soft Brexit.”

He’s the third and most prominent minister to resign from the government in 24 hours over May’s handling of Brexit — a dramatic and destabilizing gesture that illustrates just how divided her cabinet is over how to navigate the country’s departure from the European Union.

News of Johnson’s departure came just hours after David Davis, the cabinet minister directly responsible for overseeing the Brexit process, resigned on Sunday evening.

Davis said that May’s vision for Brexit ceded too much control to the European Union. “It seems to me we’re giving too much away, too easily, and that’s a dangerous strategy at this time,” he told BBC Radio on Sunday.

Shortly thereafter, the minister of the “Department for Exiting the EU,” Steve Baker, quit as well.

Johnson, Davis, and Baker are advocates for a “hard Brexit” — they favor a more complete break from the EU. May and other members of her cabinet are more inclined to a “soft Brexit” that entails striking a deal that allows the UK to keep closer ties to the EU after Brexit is complete in 2019.

In the wake of the resignations, British finance minister Philip Hammond tweeted on Monday that May’s Brexit plan has his “full support.” “It’s a proposal that puts jobs first and protects our nation’s prosperity,” Hammond wrote.

The chaos engulfing May’s cabinet has raised questions about whether she could face a vote of no confidence from her own party. If she lost that vote, she would face a challenge for leadership of her party and could be forced to step down.

President Trump will be visiting the UK on Thursday, and the subject of Brexit is bound to come up in talks with May. The world will be watching to see if he decides to try to make her life even harder in the likely event that he weighs in on the issue publicly.

Read More
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52517/voxv.png

Vox - Huntsville Tribune

Recent Posts

Eurovision is supposed to be fun and silly. This year is different.

Bambie Thug, Ireland’s entry to Eurovision this year, calls herself a “ouija popstar” and a…

3 hours ago

The Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar feud, explained

Rapper Drake at “Lil Baby & Friends Birthday Celebration Concert” at State Farm Arena on…

5 hours ago

Why the Met Gala still matters

Rihanna at the 2015 Met Gala. | J. Countess/FilmMagic Turns out the first Monday in…

6 hours ago

Your phone can tell when you’re depressed

AI-powered apps may be able to use your data (including selfies) to predict your current…

8 hours ago

Here’s what sociologists want you to know about teen suicide

Guidance counselor Jacquelyn Indrisano embraces ninth grader Arianna Troville, 16, outside her office at East…

9 hours ago

If you want to belong, find a third place

Franco Zacha for Vox Your neighborhood watering hole is more important than you think. Meng…

9 hours ago