What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Britain faces the threat of a chaotic no deal Brexit after Theresa May's Brexit Secretary sensationally resigned.

Dominic Raab is one of five ministers to walk this morning - just hours after Mrs May pushed her 585-page deal with the EU through a stormy five-hour meeting of the Cabinet.

In a damning letter he accused the PM of betraying "public trust" and said he could not "in good conscience" support the deal.

He was followed just an hour later by Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey - who sent Mrs May a blistering letter warning her deal "fails" to take back control, "does not honour the result of the referendum" and "threatens the integrity of the United Kingdom".

Three other junior ministers - Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Suella Braverman and Shailesh Vara - had all also resigned by 10.30am.

The move ramps up the odds of a leadership contest against flailing Mrs May. Last night a Tory MP said the party was close to the 48 no confidence letters it needs to trigger one.

It also ramps up the chance of her deal being voted down in a crunch House of Commons vote.

FOLLOW IT LIVE HERE

(Image: Getty Images)

Mr Raab was the second minister to resign before 9am as junior minister Shailesh Vara also quit.

And he is the second Brexit Secretary to resign this year, after David Davis also quit in protest at Mrs May.

Mr Raab's extraordinary move came minutes after EU chiefs promised a summit to sign off the deal on November 25 - if "nothing extraordinary happens".

Labour Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer confirmed Labour WILL vote down the deal in the Commons - with a decision due in the next month.

"She's got to reflect on this now and accept the approach she has taken is the wrong approach," he said after Mr Raab quit.

He told Sky News: "We will vote against this deal because it doesn't meet our tests."

Scroll down to read Dominic Raab's letter in full.

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Labour shadow minister Jon Trickett said: "This so-called deal has unraveled before our eyes.

"This is the 20th Minister to resign from Theresa May’s Government in her two year premiership.

"Theresa May has no authority left and is clearly incapable of delivering a Brexit deal that commands even the support of her Cabinet - let alone Parliament and the people of our country."

Will Theresa May win the Brexit deal vote? Theresa May has a Brexit deal, but the danger is looming that it will be defeated in the House of Commons. Even getting it past her Cabinet forced Esther McVey and Dominic Raab to resign. Now she faces one more hurdle - a vote in Parliament on December 11. MPs are grouped in several factions - their warring opinions are explained more fully here. But if 318 or more vote against the deal, they will defeat the deal. Against the deal TORY BREXITEERS: There are up to about 80, led by Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg, threatening to vote down a deal that keeps Britain trapped in "vassalage" with Brussels. Not all are expected to live up to their threats. TORY HARD REMAINERS: Only about a dozen, but many - including Justine Greening and Jo Johnson - will vote against, instead wanting a second referendum. DUP: Theresa May's Northern Irish allies - who she handed £1.5bn - are 10-strong. They say they will vote down the deal. LABOUR LOYALISTS: About 150 MPs are consistently loyal to Jeremy Corbyn on Brexit. They'll be told to vote against the deal because it doesn't meet Labour's 'six tests'. LABOUR REMAINERS: There are about 50 hard Remainer Labour MPs. They're likely to oppose the deal to avoid enabling a Brexit. OTHERS: The SNP (35), Lib Dems (12), Plaid Cymru (4) and Greens (1) are all likely to vote against. For the deal TORY LOYALISTS: Well over 200 are likely to vote with Theresa May, for the deal. Many have paid government jobs - so would have to quit if they oppose her. 'NERVOUS LABOUR': Some Labour MPs could BACK a deal - fearing otherwise Britain will be plunged into an even worse No Deal. There could be 20 or more. Caroline Flint is among them. Unknown LABOUR BREXITEERS: There are only about half a dozen. It was generally thought they'd side with Theresa May, but Kate Hoey MP broke ranks and said she could vote against.

It comes after the Cabinet reluctantly agreed a deal with Brussels last night in a five-hour summit - where 11 members objected and one, Esther McVey , was reportedly left in tears.

Theresa May stood defiant before warring MPs today after warning last night they must choose her Brexit - or no Brexit at all. She admitted there was an "impassioned debate" and "difficult days ahead".

Today she told MPs "I do not pretend that this has been a comfortable process".

But they burst out laughing in the Commons as she claimed the deal will ensure a "smooth and orderly" Brexit.

Tory MPs have claimed she will face a leadership challenge as soon as today - and her own former chief of staff Nick Timothy branded the deal a "horror show".

(Image: FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Jacob Rees Mogg, chairman of the Tory Brexiteer European Research Group, is now poised to axe his policy of not calling for Mrs May to quit.

He told ITV’s Peston: “The case that I have made is that I disagree with the policy but not the individual.

"[But] there comes a point at which the policy and the individual are so inextricably linked that that argument ceases to have any validity.

"I think we are coming very close to that point."

Brexiteers and Remainers are both furious at the deal because it includes clauses that could keep the UK locked in Brussels' orbit - with no say on its rules.

Key points from UK's 611-page Brexit deal with EU The Brexit deal agreed by Theresa May and the EU covers two areas: the Withdrawal Agreement, covering the UK's exit from the EU, and the Political Declaration on a Future Framework, which sets out the relationship with the EU after Britain leaves. Key details on the Brexit deal include: 1. The Withdrawal Agreement The transition period can be extended until 2022 - after the next election

Goods face being checked between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK

A 'backstop' could extend EU customs rules UK-wide - and we'd need Brussels' permission to quit

European courts will still have a big hold on the UK 2. The Future Framework "Comprehensive arrangements that will create a free trade area" - not exactly the "frictionless trade" hoped for

Possible EU access to British fishing waters

We would remain tied to European courts

We'd respect human rights laws

Visas needed for long term trips to the EU

It has built in vagueness - kicking the can down the road for further negotiations Read about the deal in more depth here.

A 'backstop' plan will kick in - if there is no deal to stop a hard border in Northern Ireland - extending EU customs rules across the whole of the UK.

This will stop the UK signing trade deals with other countries around the world.

And not only does the backstop have no clear "end date", the UK would be stuck in it unless the EU gave its permission for us to quit.

The deal also forces some checks on goods travelling between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK - a red line for the DUP, who say it would break up the precious union.

(Image: Charles McQuillan)

And in a move that will enrage Tory Brexiteers, European courts will still have a major hold on the UK.

If the deal is rejected it will ramp up the odds of a No Deal Brexit from 29 March 2019.

The Health Secretary told last night's Cabinet meeting people could DIE in a No Deal, reports have revealed.

Matt Hancock "told the room that he could not guarantee people would not die as a result of a no-deal Brexit," according to The Times.

Mr Hancock pointedly did not deny the reports today, instead telling the BBC No Deal "is not pretty".

(Image: PA)

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I'm not going to go into what anybody said and that includes me.

"We need to make sure everybody does what's necessary if there's no deal to have the unimpeded flow of medicines people need. And there's a lot of work we need to do."

Asked if lives could be lost if the government gets it wrong he replied: "It is very important that we get it right."

He added: "No deal is not pretty it is very difficult for the economy and lots of other areas like healthcare."

Dominic Raab's resignation letter in full

Dear Prime Minister,

15 November 2018

It has been an honour to serve in your government as Justice Minister, Housing Minister and Brexit Secretary.

I regret to say that, following the Cabinet meeting yesterday on the Brexit deal. I must resign. I understand why you have chosen to pursue the deal with the EU on the terms proposed. and I respect the different views held in good faith by all of our colleagues.

For my part, I cannot support the proposed deal for two reasons. First, I believe that the regulatory regime proposed for Northern Ireland presents a very real threat the integrity of the United Kingdom.

Second, I cannot support an indefinite backstop arrangement, where the EU holds a veto over our ability to exit. The terms of the backstop amount to a hybrid of the EU Customs Union and Single Market obligations. No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement. That arrangement is now also taken as the starting point for negotiating the Future Economic Partnership. If we accept that, it will severely prejudice the second phase of negotiations against the UK.

I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election. This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust.

I appreciate that you disagree with my judgment on these issues. I have weighed very carefully the alternative courses of action which the government could take, on which I have previously advised. Ultimately, you deserve a Brexit Secretary who can make the case for the deal you are pursuing with conviction. I am only sorry, in good conscience. that I cannot.

My respect for you, and the fortitude you have shown in difficult times, remains undimmed.

Yours sincerely,

Dominic Raab