Minister threatens to resign to stop no-deal Brexit

A business minister has threatened to resign from the Government if it is necessary to stop a no-deal Brexit.

Richard Harrington said he would “definitely” quit to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal, but stressed that he believed Britain would leave with the Prime Minister’s deal.

“We will not be leaving with no deal,” he told BBC Two’s Newsnight. “We’re going to leave with the Prime Minister’s deal. And I think people are beginning to realise that it’s the Prime Minister’s deal or there may not be a Brexit.”

Asked if he was prepared to resign to stop a no-deal Brexit, Mr Harrington said: “Definitely, I would.”

There was no sign of a breakthrough among Tory MPs who have vowed to vote against Mrs May’s deal as they left Downing Street following a drinks reception.

Former cabinet minister and Brexiteer Theresa Villiers said the evening “hasn’t changed my view” and she would still not support the agreement.

DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds described the meeting as a “very pleasant social occasion”.

But asked whether words of comfort from the EU would be enough to change his party’s stance on the deal, he told reporters: “Let us wait and see what comes forth in the course of the next few days but there hasn’t been much so far, so we’ll see what happens in the next little while.”

Housing minister Heather Wheeler, who voted for Leave, said she thought there was a “plan to win” under way regarding the deal, and Eddisbury MP and Remain supporter Antoinette Sandbach said it had been a “very positive evening”.

Another reception will be held on Wednesday as part of the charm offensive, while more than 200 MPs who signed a letter to the Prime Minister urging her to rule out a no-deal Brexit have been invited to meet Mrs May at Downing Street on Tuesday.

The Government will begin broadcasting radio adverts on Tuesday to help people prepare for Brexit, focusing on topics including passports, visas, healthcare and driving in the EU.

They will provide information on both no-deal and other Brexit scenarios, and will be followed by billboards and posters in the coming weeks.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable is set to visit Portsmouth to learn about the impact a no-deal Brexit could have on the port.

Ahead of the visit, he said: “The Government is spending plenty of taxpayers money preparing for a no-deal Brexit but it’s very clear it is not taking seriously the disruption that would take place.

“It has been focusing on Dover but places like Portsmouth will suffer and we could see the closure of the M3.

“The police cannot get an answer out of the Highways Agency on how to proceed. And not one Tory MP in the region turned up to a meeting which was held to discuss the problem. It’s irresponsible and a no-deal Brexit will cause untold disruption.”