Andrea Leadsom QUITS Theresa May's cabinet launching coup to oust PM

Commons leader Andrea Leadsom has resigned from the Cabinet, kicking off a coup to force Theresa May out of office.

In her letter of resignation, she wrote: "I do now urge you to make the right decisions in the interests of the country, this Government and our Party. "

And she said she "fundamentally opposes" parts of the PM's new Brexit plan.

The leading Brexiteer stood down adding to growing pressure on the Prime Minister to follow suit.

Leadsom, who would have been in charge of taking Mrs May’s Brexit bill through Parliament, said there had been a “complete breakdown” of the Cabinet.

And she warned that the PM’s new plan to give MPs a vote on a second referendum would be “dangerously divisive”.

A Number 10 spokesman said: “Andrea Leadsom has served with distinction and great ability as a member of the government, and the Prime Minister is grateful for all of her work.

"We are disappointed that she has chosen to resign, and the Prime Minister remains focused on delivering the Brexit people voted for.”

But even as voters went to the polls in the European elections, Mrs May was still desperately clinging on to power.

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Labour Party Chair Ian Lavery said: "The Prime Minister’s authority is shot and her time is up.

“While the Tories are ripping themselves apart, our country is in crisis. The government has made a catastrophic mess of the Brexit negotiations, our steel industry is under threat and universal credit is pushing people into poverty. 

“For the sake of the country, Theresa May needs to go, and we need an immediate general election.”

The shock resignation came minutes after

Cabinet ministers after she unveiled a new Brexit compromise that prompted Tory mutiny.

Her new deal - due for a vote by MPs in the week of June 3 - could trigger a temporary customs union with the EU and a second referendum on Brexit.

One furious Tory told the Mirror: “The game is up”.

But Mrs May did not go.

So moments after the drama with Cabinet ministers, there was drama with her backbench MPs too.

Her Chief Whip swept in for a meeting with top Tory backbenchers at 5.30pm - that lasted just two minutes.

Reports suggest Chief Whip Julian Smith told the backbench 1922 Committee's rulers that Mrs May would stay in post.

And MPs were told she planned to campaign as usual in the European elections tomorrow - in which Tories are expected to face a mauling.

Sir Graham Brady, who leads the powerful Committee, will now meet the embattled leader on Friday.

After that, he will consult with the 1922 Committee executive - who after several failed attempts, could finally change rules and oust the PM.

Currently Mrs May cannot face a leadership challenge until December, exactly one year after she won the last one.

Her critics are trying to scrap that one-year rule and force a contest now. But they are hoping she’ll resign of her own accord first.

Speaking after the meeting Sir Graham said: "I will be meeting with the Prime Minister on Friday following her campaigning in the European elections tomorrow.

Sir Graham Brady, who leads the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, will now meet the embattled PM on Friday after she clung on for another 48 hours (AFP/Getty Images)

"Following that meeting I will be consulting with the 1922 executive. I have nothing further that I can say at the moment."

Asked if the exec discussed rule changes he said: "We discussed all sorts of things."

Tory hardliner Steve Baker said: “People are rather impatient, colleagues are rather impatient, but I equally I think most colleagues do appreciate this is a very difficult time for everybody on the exec and that this is after all the eve of poll in a national election."

Ms Leadsom was Theresa May's final rival in the 2016 Tory leadership contest.

But she withdrew from the contest, crowning Mrs May PM and saying it was in the “best interests of the country”.

Her resignation comes at the end of a dramatic day for Mrs May, as rumours swirled around Westminster that she could leave Number 10 as soon as this evening.

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Whispers of a dramatic intervention from Leadsom being on the cards began at lunchtime, when the Commons leader was unusually absent from the Government front bench at the beginning of PMQs.

She entered the chamber around 20 minutes into the session, and was seen deep in discussions with Chief Whip Julian Smith.

A string of ministers demanded meetings with the PM - some of them furious about her 'new deal' to encourage MPs to back her Withdrawal bill.

David Mundell, the Scots Secretary, was understood to acting alone rather than as part of a group of Cabinet ministers who are rumoured to be plotting a coup.

But the loyalist’s request prompted immediate speculation that he could be about to break the news gently to the PM that her time was up - as Ken Clarke did with Margaret Thatcher.

The Mirror understands Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, the current frontrunner among MPs to replace Mrs May, also demanded a private meeting with the PM.

And Home Secretary Sajid Javid is also thought to have asked for a meeting with the PM today.

But it was reported that the PM had refused to take meetings with any Cabinet ministers this evening.

Former Welfare Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: “The sofa is up against the door, she’s not leaving”.

Here's Andrea Leadsom's resignation letter in full

Dear Prime Minister

I am proud to have served in your Government since 2016, first as your Environment Secretary and for the last two years as Leader of the House of Commons, and pay tribute to the excellent work of my civil servants in both roles.

More recently, setting up the new complaints procedure, putting in train the restoration of the Palace of Westminster, introducing Proxy Voting for MPs, proposing a new strategy to support early years, and ensuring the timely delivery of our legislative programme, my role as Leader of the Commons has been highly rewarding, and I am grateful to have had these opportunities. 
 

I stayed in Cabinet to shape and fight for Brexit.

There have been some uncomfortable compromises along the way, but you have had my determined support and loyalty in your efforts to deliver Brexit as our shared goal. 
 

I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the referendum result, for the following reasons: 
 

1. I do not believe that we will be a truly sovereign United Kingdom through the deal that is now proposed;
2. I have always maintained that a second referendum would be dangerously divisive, and I do not support the Government willingly facilitating such a concession. It would also risk undermining our Union which is something I passionately want to see strengthened;
3. There has been such a breakdown of government processes that recent Brexit-related legislative proposals have not been properly scrutinised or approved by Cabinet members;
4. The tolerance to those in Cabinet who have advocated policies contrary to the Government's position has led to a complete breakdown of collective responsibility. 
    

I know there are important elections tomorrow, and many Conservatives have worked hard to support our excellent candidates. I considered carefully the timing of this decision, but I cannot fulfil my duty as Leader of the House tomorrow, to announce a Bill with new elements that I fundamentally oppose.

I fully respect the integrity, resolution and determination that you have shown during your time as Prime Minister. No one has wanted you to succeed more than I have, but I do now urge you to make the right decisions in the interests of the country, this Government and our Party.

It is therefore with great regret and with a heavy heart that I resign from the Government.

Best, Andrea