PHILLIP LEE MP has resigned as Justice Minister over a disagreement over Brexit.

The Bracknell MP has announced this morning that he has resigned from his post so as to oppose Prime Minister Theresa May over Brexit.

He posted: "I am incredibly sad to have had to announce my resignation as a minister in Her Majesty’s Government so that I can better speak up for my constituents and country over how Brexit is currently being delivered. Statement to follow shortly on my website.

"If, in the future, I am to look my children in the eye and honestly say that I did my best for them I cannot, in all good conscience, support how our country’s current exit from the EU looks set to be delivered.

"I voted to remain in the European Union and have not changed my view that continued membership would have been the better strategic course. Even so, I believe that it would be impossible and wrong to seek to go back to how things were before the referendum.

"If Brexit is worth doing, then it is certainly worth doing well; regardless of how long that takes.

"When MPs vote on the House of Lords’ amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill I will support the amendment which will empower Parliament to reject a bad deal and direct the Government to re-enter discussions. For me, this is about the important principle of Parliamentary sovereignty. 

"I voted to remain in the European Union and have not changed my view that continued membership would have been the better strategic course. Even so, I believe that it would be impossible and wrong to seek to go back to how things were before the referendum. We cannot and should not turn back the clock.

"For me, resigning is a last resort - not something that I want to do but something I feel I must do because, for me, such a serious principle is being breached that I would find it hard to live with myself afterwards if I let it pass."

Earlier in the year, Theresa May was asked by The News about her working relationship with Dr Lee, and she stated that the two were friends.

She said: "Well, I know Phillip Lee very well, obviously he's a neighbouring member of parliament, but I knew him very well even before he was a member of parliament."

More to come.