Minister quits government warning Brexit delay will lead to ‘final humiliation’ of UK

Agriculture minister George Eustice has quit the government, warning a delay in Brexit could lead to the “final humiliation of our country”.

Eustice, who campaigned for Leave in the 2016 referendum, told Theresa May he had stuck by her through “a series of undignified retreats” during the course of the negotiations, but the possibility of Brexit being delayed is the final straw.

The Cambourne and Redruth MP, who stood for Ukip in 1999, lashed out at parliament and the EU in his resignation letter, saying many of his fellow MPs “refuse to respect the referendum result.”

He also claimed Brussels has “deliberately made progress slow and difficult” in the talks.

In her response, May welcomed the fact Eustice would still be voting for the deal from the backbenches, and said parliament must now "come together" and vote for a withdrawal agreement.

In his letter, Eustice wrote: "I have stuck with the government through a series of rather undignified retreats. However, I fear that developments this week will lead to a sequence of events culminating in the EU dictating the terms of any extension requested and the final humiliation of our country.

"I appreciate that you have been terribly undermined by those in parliament who refuse to respect the referendum result. You have shown tenacity and resilience over the past year. However, 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."

Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who was Eustice's boss, tweeted:

So sorry to see George go. He has been a brilliant minister and will remain a dear friend. He leaves an outstanding legacy, with the Agriculture and Fisheries Bills setting domestic policy for the first time in nearly 50 years. He will be very much missed.

— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) February 28, 2019

May this week agreed to allow MPs to vote for a delay to Brexit beyond March 29 if her deal is again rejected by Parliament. 

Scott Mann, One Eustice's Tory colleagues in Cornwall, said the resignation letter had "some fire in there" and the former farmer would be a loss to government.

When asked if shared Eustice's view the UK was heading for a "national humilation", Mann told City A.M.: "It depends what the government's position is if they lose the meaningful vote. 

"They need to take a position about whether they would back 'no deal' or not."

In a letter back to Eustice, the Prime Minister thanked him for his five years of service in the department for environment, food and rural affairs.

On Brexit, she wrote: "I agree with you that parliament must now come together and honour the referendum result by voting for a deal which will give businesses and citizens the certainty they need and deserve.

"Our absolute focus should be on getting a deal that can command support in parliament and leaving on 29 March.

"It is within our grasp, and I am grateful to have your continued support in that important mission."

Eustice is the 24th person to quit as a minister or secretary of state since May became Prime Minster in July 2016

George Eustice's full letter:

Dear Prime Minister,

It is with tremendous sadness that I have decided to resign from the government following the decision this week to allow the postponement of our exit from the EU. Since Parliament is now in direct control of events, I want to be free to participate in the critical debate that will take place in the weeks ahead.

It has been an honour to work alongside so many talented individuals at Defra over the past five years. Defra has phenomenal expertise and, more than any other government department, has embraced the opportunities posed by our exit from the EU. I have particularly welcomed the chance to craft two new Bills on farming and fisheries, which are the first for half a century, as we have prepared the ground to restore self-government in this country.

I will vote for your Withdrawal Agreement when it returns to the House and I very much hope that the Attorney General succeeds in securing final changes so that others might too. Although I campaigned to leave, I have always supported compromise to achieve a reconciliation in our country. Leaving the EU would represent an historic change and it is natural that some people will feel apprehensive. I have been open to the idea of using our existing membership of the EEA as an exit mechanism and I supported your approach outlined at Chequers when others did not. I have stuck with the government through a series of rather undignified retreats. However, I fear that developments this week will lead to a sequence of events culminating in the EU dictating the terms of any extension requested and the final humiliation of our country.

I appreciate that you have been terribly undermined by those in Parliament who refuse to respect the referendum result. You have shown tenacity and resilience over the past year. However, 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.

As a Defra Minister, I have enjoyed good relations with the European Commission and with Ministers from other member states. However, I do not believe that the Commission has behaved honourably during these negotiations. They have deliberately made progress slow and difficult. They have stated in terms that they will refuse to even hold substantive negotiations on a future partnership until after we leave. If the position of Parliament is now that we will refuse to leave without an agreement then we are somewhat stuck. This is uncomfortable for everyone, but we cannot negotiate a successful Brexit unless we are prepared to walk through the door.

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.