Fail to deliver on Brexit causing collapse of Conservatives – ex Housing Minister resigns

November 16, 2018

I am sure that not many people will even know who the current housing minister is today (Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP), though it is the reluctance of Prime Minister May to carry out Brexit which is causing descent amongst the ranks. With more shifty underhand dealings than a dodgy poker player from May it would appear, Brexit in name only is not what the doctor ordered as resignation letters start to pour in.

Ex housing minister Dominic Raab resigns via Twitter in protest to the current dealings with Brexit and in respect to those who voted leave.

His letter in full reads:

Dear Prime Minister,

It’s been an honour to serve in your government as Justice Minister, Housing Minister and Brexit Secretary.

I regret to say that following the Cabinet meeting yesterday on the Brexit deal, I must resign. I understand why you have chosen to pursue the deal with the EU on the terms proposed, and I respect the different views held in good faith by all of our colleagues.

For my part, I cannot support the proposed deal for two reasons. First, I believe that the regulatory regime proposed for Northern Ireland presents a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom.

Second, I cannot support an indefinite backstop arrangement, where the EU holds a veto over our ability to exit. The terms of the backstop amount to a hybrid of the EU customs union and single market obligations. No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide the exit arrangement. That arrangement is now also taken as the starting point for negotiating the future economic partnership. If we accept that, it will severely prejudice the second phase of negotiations against the UK.

Above all, I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election. This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust.

I appreciate that you disagree with my judgement on these issues. I have weighed very carefully the alternative course of action which the government could take, on which I have previously advised. Ultimately you deserve a Brexit Secretary who can make the case for the deal you are pursuing with conviction. I am only sorry, in good conscience, that I cannot.

My respect for you and the fortitude you have shown in difficult times remains undimmed.

Yours sincerely

Dominic Raab

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Letting Agent Talk

Selective Licensing Requirements

Propertymark is reminding landlords of their responsibilities under Selective Licensing schemes as more local authorities across England and Wales continue to implement or expand these regulatory measures. Selective licensing is designed to improve housing standards, ensure safer communities, and provide greater oversight of privately rented properties. Propertymark urges landlords to familiarise themselves with the rules…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Autumn Budget 2025: Key advice for homeowners, buyers and landlords

The UK’s Autumn Budget delivered several headline-grabbing policies that will directly shape the future of the housing market. While initial reactions ranged from concern to confusion, property experts say the sector should take a measured, informed view, particularly as many changes won’t take effect for several years. From understanding who is going to face implications,…
Read More →
Breaking News

Five real estate opportunities to watch in 2026

By Daniel Austin, CEO and co-founder at ASK Partners The 2025 Autumn Budget offered limited stimulus for the housing market and, persistent headwinds such as sticky inflation, higher for longer interest rates, elevated construction costs, and slow planning processes continue to impact development viability. But there are still reasons for cautious optimism. The UK economy…
Read More →
Breaking News

Are Rightmove fee increases set to outpace agent earnings

The latest research from Property DriveBuy suggests that the nation’s estate agents are on course to see the sums paid to Rightmove in fees outpace the growth in commission earned for a third consecutive year, having already seen significantly higher increases in Rightmove fees over the last two years versus the commission bagged per property…
Read More →
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 3/12/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Banking facility will make it easier and more cost-effective for TPFG franchisees to access funding  The Property Franchise Group (TPFG), one the UK’s largest property franchisors, has announced the launch of a new bespoke lending facility, created with Barclays. This initiative will make it easier…
Read More →
Breaking News

What the Autumn Budget 2025 means for downsizers

Now that the dust has settled on what was a hotly anticipated Autumn Budget from the UK government, over-50s property specialist Regency Living has produced a concise guide to the implications for the nation’s downsizers, and concluded that this Budget is going to further increase demand on England’s park home market. The 2025 Autumn Budget was…
Read More →