{UAH} Jo Johnson quits: Boris Johnson's brother resigns over 'tension' between 'family loyalty and national interest'

Alan barigye/ Moses Nekyon/ Ocaya POcure/ Frank Mujabi/ Edward POjoim,

See the harm that Boris Johnson's rightwing policies is doing to his own family. It has already ruined his marriage. His sister and now his brother have abandoned him because, although they are themselves conservatives, they are ashamed of him for being a fascist.

Bobby

Boris Johnson's brother Jo quits over family and political tension

Boris Johnson's brother Jo Johnson has dramatically quit as a Conservative MP and minister, saying he is "torn between family loyalty and the national interest.

Jo Johnson quits: Boris Johnson's brother resigns over 'tension' between 'family loyalty and national interest'

Read our live politics blog HERE

• STEPHANIE COCKROFT 
• 11 minutes ago 
• 4 comments

Click to follow
The Evening Standard

Jo Johnson has announced he is standing down as a minister and Tory MP ( Danial Leal-Olivas / AFP / Getty Images )

ES News email

The latest headlines in your inbox

Register with your social accountor click here to log in

I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email

Boris Johnson's brother Jo Johnson has dramatically quit as a Conservative MP and minister, saying he is "torn between family loyalty and the national interest."

Mr Johnson said he could not serve with the "unresolved tensions" caused by the Government's threat to crash out of the EU without a deal. 

The announcement came just moments after former Labour MP Lucia Berger announced exclusively in the Evening Standard that she was joining the Liberals Democrats.

ADVERTISING

inRead invented by Teads

He has spent nine years as an MP for Orpington and was appointed earlier this year as Minister of State for Universities & Science, a position in which he was able to attend Cabinet. 

In a tweet, he wrote: "It's been an honour to represent Orpington for 9 years & to serve as a minister under three PMs.

"In recent weeks I've been torn between family loyalty and the national interest - it's an unresolvable tension & time for others to take on my roles as MP & Minister."

He signed off with the hashtag #overandout.

He did not make it clear if the resignation would take immediate effect or if it would be in the event of a snap election. 

Boris Johson held his first PMQs after six weeks in the role (EPA)

Mr Johnson campaigned to Remain at the 2016 referendum. 

Their sister Rachel Johnson ran as a Change UK candidate for the South West of England in the European elections.

 Conservative MP Caroline Spelman annouced she was stepping down from the commons just a few minutes after Mr Johnson.

Labour MP Ian Murray tweeted: "Even Boris Johnson's brother knows that he can't be trusted to make decisions in the national interest. This is devastating from Jo Johnson."

Labour deputy leader Tom Watson added: "I wonder how many Tory MPs are wishing @theresa_may was still Prime Minister this morning?"

Former Tory MP David Gauke tweeted: "Lots of MPs have had to wrestle with conflicting loyalties in recent weeks. None more so than Jo. This is a big loss to Parliament, the Government and the Conservative Party."

Mr Gauke was one of 21 MPs to have the whip removed by the Conservative Party after rebelling against the party in the Commons this week.

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage tweeted: "The centre of gravity in the Conservative Party is shifting rapidly."

Labour MEP Theresa Griffin tweeted: "The first example of a politician stepping down to spend less time with their family?"

More about: | Conservative | Boris Johnson | Jo Johnson | Brexit

Show 4 comments

--
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ugandans at Heart (UAH) Community" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ugandans-at-heart/CAMs%3D6-wRkkHV597aXY%3DK%2B%3D5vAzG9uyuZX0sCwp54hsRmsDMVCg%40mail.gmail.com.