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'Government in chaos' as Brexit minister resigns, says Labour

BORIS JOHNSON was accused of being a “lame duck PM” today after the resignation of ex-Brexit minister Lord Frost.

The former Brexit minister resigned “with immediate effect” on Saturday night amid “concerns about the current direction of travel.”

In a letter to Mr Johnson, the peer said that he was sad the unlocking from Covid-19 restrictions had not proved “irreversible” as promised.

He said: “I hope we can get back on track soon and not be tempted by the kind of coercive measures we have seen elsewhere.”

He also said that he hoped Britain would become a “lightly regulated, low-tax” country.

In his reply, Mr Johnson said that he was “very sorry” to have received his resignation.

Cabinet Office shadow minister Baroness Jenny Chapman said: “The government is in chaos. The country needs leadership, not a lame duck PM who has lost the faith of his MPs and Cabinet. 

“Boris Johnson needs to get a grip, tell us his plan for the next few weeks and bring certainty for the people of Northern Ireland by unblocking the stalemate over the Protocol.”

Lord Frost’s departure was described as a “watershed moment” by prominent Brexiteer Tory Andrew Bridgen.

He told Times Radio it was a “devastating blow for the government and the Prime Minister” and suggested that many Conservative colleagues would be considering the PM’s future over Christmas.

In a tweet he said that Mr Johnson was “running out of time and out of friends to deliver on the promises and discipline of a true Conservative government.”

He said: “Lord Frost has made it clear, 100 Conservative backbenchers have made it clear, but most importantly so did the people of North Shropshire.”

Lord Frost had been attempting to find a way to resolve issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol, which aims to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.

But the implementation of the protocol has caused issues with customs, agri-food, trade and medicines.

Stormont Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said Northern Ireland would not become “collateral damage in the Tory chaos.”

She tweeted: “David Frost negotiated Brexit, which a majority here rejected. He has undermined the protocol since, which limits the damage of Brexit on our people and economy.”

Ms O’Neill said whoever replaces Lord Frost as Brexit minister will “need to find solutions” to make the Northern Ireland Protocol work.
 

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