The move by the Brexiteer, who challenged Mrs May for the leadership after the Brexit referendum in 2016, finally ended months of speculation that she was unable to square her beliefs with Mrs May’s handling of the UK’s exit from the EU.
Announcing her departure in a letter she told the PM: ‘I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the referendum result.' Mrs May is clinging desperately to power with furious Tory MPs baying for her political blood and demanding she quit. She has arranged a showdown with backbench kingmaker Sir Graham Brady on Friday as ministers lined up to demand she drop her promise of a Commons vote on a second Brexit referendum.
Rumours had swept Westminster that there could even be a dramatic announcement tonight if Mrs May cannot defuse the angry backlash - although No10 dismissed the idea. But Sir Graham tonight told the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs that she had been given two more days with European elections - in which the Tories are expected to receive a hiding - taking place tomorrow.
The so-called 'Pizza Club' of Eurosceptic ministers - including Mrs Leadsom and Liz Truss met earlier to consider their next move as the Tory infighting escalated. A Cabinet source said there was a growing consensus that the Withdrawal Agreement Bill - known as WAB - should not be brought to the Commons. 'The mood music in Cabinet is heading towards stopping it coming back,' they told MailOnline.
The premier put on a show of defiance in a marathon appearance in the Commons this afternoon, insisting the text of her Brexit Bill would be published on Friday - after European elections when the Tories are on track to be hammered...read more>>>...