Minister George Eustice resigns from Government over Article 50 extension
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Agriculture minister George Eustice has resigned from the government over Theresa May’s decision to allow a vote on delaying article 50, saying it would be “the final humiliation of our country”.
Eustice, a long-standing Brexiter and former Ukip candidate, said he wanted to be free to participate in debates in parliament in the coming weeks, saying he resigned with “tremendous sadness”.
The ex-minister said he would vote for May’s withdrawal agreement but said he felt he had “stuck with the government through a series of rather undignified retreats”.
“What our country needs from all its political leaders at this critical juncture is courage, and we are about to find out whether Parliament has it,” he continued.
“If the position of Parliament is now that we will refuse to leave without an agreement then we are somewhat stuck.
“We must therefore have the courage, if necessary, to reclaim our freedom first and talk afterwards. We must be ready to face down the European Union here and now. The absence of an agreement poses risks and costs for them too.
“We already know that in the event of ‘no deal’ the EU will seek an informal transition period for nine months in many areas and settlement talks could continue within this window.
“I will do what I can from the back benches to try to salvage this sorry situation and I hope that, when the moment comes, Parliament will not let our country down.”
