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

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

Breaking News

First-time buyer reform could reshape conveyancing risk landscape

The Government’s consultation on replacing the Lifetime ISA with a new first-time buyer savings product by April 2028, and review of the £450,000 property price cap, could have significant legal and transactional implications for buyers and property professionals alike. According to Beswicks Legal, the reform is a live conveyancing risk issue already affecting transactions on…
Read More
Breaking News

Property Redress reports Complaint enquiries rise 47%

Complaint enquiries rise 47% as Property Redress annual report shows faster resolutions and higher early settlements 47% increase in complaint enquiries in 2025 (4,220 vs 2,863 in 2024) 41% more cases accepted by December compared to the previous year Average resolution time reduced to 34 days (down from 39 days in 2024) 53% of cases resolved at early…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 2/3/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Rightmove’s CEO Johan Svanstrom … ‘is a man under pressure’ Rightmove’s ‘Unthinkable Event’ Thought Leadership by Mal McCallion CEO at ModelProp, guiding AI-driven growth in property. The #Rightmove CEO came out swinging on Friday when his company’s latest set of annual results, for 2025, showed that they…
Read More
bank of england interest rate
Breaking News

Bank of England Money and Credit Report – January 2026

Overview These monthly statistics on the amount of, and interest rates on, borrowing and deposits by households and businesses are used by the Bank’s policy committees to understand economic trends and developments in the UK banking system. Key points: et borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals decreased to £4.1 billion in January, from £4.5 billion…
Read More
Breaking News

Nationwide house prices showing a 0.3% increase

Thoughts from the Industry Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark comments: “Today’s figures from Nationwide show continued upward movement in house prices, reflecting resilient demand in many parts of the UK despite ongoing affordability constraints. “While rising prices may signal confidence in the market, they also reinforce the need for policies that support supply and improve…
Read More
Breaking News

House price growth holds steady in February

Annual house price growth unchanged at 1.0% House prices were up 0.3% month on month Continued improvement in affordability helped drive first-time buyer activity in 2025 Commenting on the figures, Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief Economist, said: “Annual house price growth remained steady at 1.0% in February. Prices increased by 0.3% month on month, after taking…
Read More