Boris Johnson told Theresa May in his resignation letter that the Brexit "dream is dying" - with the prime minister replying she is a "little surprised" by his decision to step down as foreign secretary.

Explaining his decision to quit the cabinet, Mr Johnson wrote: "Brexit should be about opportunity and hope. It should be a chance to do things differently.

"To be more nimble and dynamic and to maximise the particular advantages of the UK as an open, outward-looking, global economy.

"That dream is dying, suffocated by needless self-doubt."

Image: Boris Johnson wrote a two-page resignation letter to Theresa May

Mr Johnson claimed that the UK has ended up postponing "crucial decisions" such as preparing for a "no deal" Brexit.


He warned that, as a result, the country risks heading for a "semi-Brexit" which will leave chunks of the economy locked within the trading bloc - without the UK having any control.

And he said that the UK's inability to influence laws as they are made means "we are truly headed for the status of colony".

Boris Johnson departs official residence

Mr Johnson went on: "It is clear that by surrendering control over our rule book for goods and agrifoods (and much else besides) we will make it much more difficult to do free trade deals."

His resignation, along with that of Brexit Secretary David Davis, came days after the prime minister held crunch talks at her Buckinghamshire retreat - with the entire cabinet agreeing on proposals to establish a new UK-EU trade area.

Both Brexiteers were opposed to the proposals, with Mr Johnson reportedly describing the plans as "polishing a turd".

Davis: 'It's a pity' Johnson resigned

Mrs May, who is now potentially facing a leadership challenge after their departure, wrote in her reply to Mr Johnson: "It is a proposal which will honour the result of the referendum and the commitments we made in our general election manifesto to leave the single market and customs union.

"It will mean that we take back control of our borders, our laws, and our money - ending the freedom of movement, ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the United Kingdom, and ending the days of sending vast sums of taxpayers' money to the European Union."

Image: Theresa May wrote in her letter to Boris Johnson that she is 'surprised' to see him resign

Mrs May told Mr Johnson in her letter that it is "right you should step down", having earlier written: "As we have developed our policy on Brexit, I have allowed cabinet colleagues considerable latitude to express their individual views.

"But the agreement we reached on Friday marks the point where that is no longer the case."

Sky's political correspondent Lewis Goodall said Mr Johnson's letter "makes Davis' look like a love letter", describing the remarks as a "declaration of war".