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The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Esther McVey, has resigned her post in protest at Theresa May's Brexit plan.

The controversial minister - who is deeply unpopular across large parts of her home city - has joined Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab in stepping down today after reading the draft publication of Theresa May's Brexit deal.

Ms McVey - who is seen as the face of the hugely controversial Universal Credit benefits reform - entered the cabinet in January's reshuffle having spent the period between 2015 and 2017 out of Parliament altogether having lost her Wirral West seat to Labour's Margaret Greenwood.

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She returned to Parliament via the safe Tory seat of Tatton at the 2017 General Election - and was promoted to the cabinet six months later.

She tweeted out her resignation letter to the Prime Minister today, which stated: "We have gone from no deal is better than a bad deal, to any deal is better than no deal.

"I cannot defend this and I could not look my constituents in the eye were I to do that. I therefore have no alternative but to resign from government."

Her letter also stated that she was 'immensely proud' of the work she has done in the Department of Work and Pensions.

Originally from West Derby, she was already unpopular with many vulnerable people for her previous work as Minister for Disabled people and as a key supporter of the so-called 'Bedroom Tax.'

Esther McVey admits Universal Credit claimants 'will be worse off'

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But in recent months, as the roll-out of the new 'six-in-one' Universal Credit benefits system has continued across the country, she has come under increasing pressure.

The system has been accused of pushing already vulnerable people towards poverty with delayed payments and harsh sanctions.

Although Ms McVey recently suggested that claims her department were making cuts to benefits were 'fake news.'

She is a prominent Brexiteer and has refused to fully back the Prime Minister's plans in the past.