Turmoil as Two UK Ministers Quit Government Protesting PM's Brexit Deal

TEHRAN (defapress)- Two UK ministers left the government amid disagreements over the controversial draft Brexit deal with Prime Minister Theresa May after she managed to secure the cabinet's support of the agreement.

News ID: 73724

Date: 15 November 2018 - 14:40

Following in the footsteps of the UK Nothern Ireland Minister, Brexit Minister Dominic Raab has also announced his resignation from the government on Thursday, Sputnik reported.

The announcement almost immediately affected the British currency, with the pound plunging.

"Today, I have resigned as Brexit Secretary. I cannot in good conscience support the terms proposed for our deal with the EU. Here is my letter to the PM explaining my reasons, and my enduring respect for her," Raab wrote on Twitter.

"I regret to say that, following the Cabinet meeting yesterday on the Brexit deal, I must resign… For my part, I cannot support the proposed deal for two reasons," Raab said in his resignation letter posted on Twitter.

Earlier in the day, Northern Ireland Minister Shailesh Vara, who backed Remain campaign in the EU referendum, has left his post in the UK government.

"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," Vara stated.

The moves come after May announced that UK Cabinet had approved draft Brexit agreement with the EU after 5-hour talks. The draft deal would be submitted to the parliament for review.

The same day, EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier revealed the contents of the provisional Brexit deal, with the accord including agreements on citizens' rights, future trade cooperation and Irish border issue, among other things.

The controversial deal has been severely criticised within the Conservative Party and beyond, with former British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson saying that it would turn the UK into a EU "vassal state".

The draft agreement text noted that UK can request the extension of transition period at any time before July 1, 2020. The transition may be extended by mutual consent.

London and Brussels have been engaged in Brexit talks since June 2017.

The European Council will hold a meeting to finalize a Brexit agreement on November 25 as long as nothing unforeseen happens, the council's president, Donald Tusk, said Thursday after a meeting with the chief EU negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier.

The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a referendum in June 2016 and is expected to do so by late March 2019, while there are still certain stumbling blocks that impede talks, namely, the Irish border and the post-Brexit UK-EU economic relations.

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