British Minister Resigns Over ‘Terrible Mistake’ In Brexit Deal

British Minister Resigns Over ‘Terrible Mistake’ In Brexit Deal

 Conservative party MP Jo Johnson leaves 10 Downing street in central London after the first cabinet meeting of the new year following a reshuffle on January 9, 2018. Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP

Britain’s transport minister Jo Johnson on Friday resigned from Prime Minister Theresa May’s government in opposition to a looming Brexit deal and called for a second referendum on leaving the EU.

“It has become increasingly clear to me that the withdrawal agreement, which is being finalised… even as I write, will be a terrible mistake,” he wrote in a stinging resignation statement.

Johnson — who had backed staying in the EU in the 2016 referendum — is the younger brother of Boris Johnson, who spearheaded the pro-Brexit campaign and quit as foreign secretary in July over May’s Brexit blueprint.