By Cristina Hodgson • Published: 05 Sep 2019 • 20:43
PMs brother Jo Johnson quits for “national interest” Credit: Shutterstock
Jo Johnson, brother of Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced he is stepping down as MP and Minister and wrote on a Twitter post he felt “torn between family loyalty and national interest”.
He announced his decision as an “unresolvable tension and time for others to take on my roles as MP and Minister”. This is another in a series of defeats over the leader’s Brexit strategy and the latest blow for the PM.
His brother’s decision to stand down is addressed in one of Jo Johnson’s tweets: “It has been an honour to represent Orpington for nine years and to serve as a Minister under three PMs”.
Jo Johnson has always been more pro-European and his resignation is another setback for the party. According to Boris Johnson’s spokesman, James Black, the Prime Minister wants an election before October 17.
Jo Johnson held his position from 2015 to 2018 under David Cameron and Theresa May but resigned in November last year in protest over the handling of Brexit predecessor, Theresa May. On that occasion he kept his seat in Parliament.
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