A minister in Theresa May’s government has quit saying he cannot support her Brexit plan.

Shailesh Vara, who was minister for Northern Ireland, announced his resignation saying that the current plan leaves the UK in a half-way house.

He said: ‘We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart.

MP Shailesh Vara has quit his position as Northern Ireland minister (Picture: Rex Shutterstock)

‘We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better. That is why I cannot support this agreement.’


The Prime Minister last night cleared the first hurdle when Cabinet ministers approved the draft terms of the agreement in a stormy five-hour meeting.

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Mr Vara, who backed remain in the referendum, said: ‘This Agreement does not provide for the United Kingdom being a sovereign, independent country leaving the shackles of the EU, however it is worded.



He added: ‘Give the past performance of the EU, there is every possibility that the UK-EU trade deal that we seek will take years to conclude.

‘We will be locked in a Customs Arrangement indefinitely, bound by rules determined by the EU over which we have no say.

With much sadness and regret I have submitted my letter of resignation as a Northern Ireland Minister to the Prime Minister. A copy of my letter is attached.

It has been a joy and privilege to serve in the Northern Ireland Office and I will always cherish the fondest memories. pic.twitter.com/SN8j4OwhYD — Shailesh Vara MP (@ShaileshVara) November 15, 2018

‘Worse, we will not be free to leave the Customs Arrangement unilaterally if we wish to do so.

‘Northern Ireland in the meantime will be subject to a different relationship with the EU from the rest of the UK and whilst I agree there should be no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom must be respected.’

Fellow Tory MP Steve Baker described Mr Vara’s resignation as ‘heroic’ saying that he is ‘not one of the usual subjects by a country mile’.

The parliamentary under-secretary of state for exiting the EU said: Shailesh Vara is right. Many of us will not accept this dreadful deal.’

Vara’s resignation came as European Council president Donald Tusk announced an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on November 25, at which the withdrawal agreement and a political declaration on future relations will be finalised and formalised.

There has been a furious backlash from Brexit-backing Tories to the deal agreed by UK and EU negotiators four months ahead of the UK’s scheduled withdrawal on March 29.

Westminster was braced for further resignations, amid widespread expectations that the Prime Minister may face a challenge to her position from Conservative MPs submitting letters of no confidence in her leadership.

The Prime Minister cleared the first hurdle when Cabinet ministers finally approved the draft terms of her agreement with Brussels at a stormy five-hour meeting on Wednesday.

But she now faces a battle to get it through Parliament as pro-Leave Conservative MPs – as well as some Remainers – lined up to condemn the plan, accusing her of breaking promises and leaving the UK at the mercy of Brussels.

In a resignation statement, North-West Cambridgeshire MP Mr Vara – who was promoted by Mrs May as recently as July – said: ‘We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart.

‘We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better.’