UK: Amber Rudd resigns from government

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - Britain’s Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd resigned from Boris Johnson government on Saturday, saying she could not stand by while loyal Conservatives were being thrown from the party.

Rudd said in an exclusive interview to the Sunday Times that she could “no longer serve” and she was surprised by the “lack of work and preparation” to reach a Brexit deal with the EU.

"I have seen 21 of my colleagues, good, strong Conservative MPs with true, moderate, progressive values excluded from the party, indicating that the Conservative Party … has no longer place for people with different views of the European Union and I can’t stand by that," she said.

Rudd added she is also “surrendering the Conservative whip” and joining the expelled MPs.

Her resignation dealt a new blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson who has insisted the U.K. would leave the EU on Oct. 31 and said progress was being made in talks with the block.

Twenty-one Tory MPs saw their whip removed by the party leadership after they supported a bill that blocks a no-deal Brexit on the Oct. 31 deadline.

The bill passed both houses of the parliament and is awaiting for the Royal Ascend to become law.

Johnson’s brother Jo Johnson resigned last week from his ministerial post and the parliament, saying he was torn between family loyalty and country’s interests.