British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson quits in protest of 'soft' Brexit

(Image credit: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

Boris Johnson has resigned as U.K foreign secretary, making him the third minister to exit in 24 hours over Prime Minister Theresa May's plan of a "soft" exit from the European Union. Described by The Guardian as "the flamboyant public face of the Vote Leave campaign," Johnson recently characterized May's proposals as "polishing a turd."

Brexit Secretary David Davis resigned Sunday, and at least one other minister from the Department for Exiting the European Union also resigned in protest of May's strategy, The Associated Press reports. On Friday, May said her plan for Brexit had the backing of her government, but in his resignation letter, Davis said the proposals for future trade "will leave us in at best a weak negotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one."

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.