BUSINESS minister Richard Harrington has resigned warning that the government's Brexit approach was "playing roulette" with people's lives.
The pro-EU MP, who was one of three minister to resign on Monday night said in a letter to the Prime Minister he had quit so he could “do all I can” to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
He said in letter to the Prime Minister: "At this critical moment in our country's history, I regret that the government's approach to Brexit is playing roulette with the lives and livelihoods of the vast majority of people in this country who are employed by or otherwise depend on businesses for their livelihood."
It comes as the Prime Minister said she does not have enough support to win a vote on her EU withdrawal deal "as things stand".
The PM also said she would order Tory MPs to vote against a bid by a group of MPs, headed by Tory Sir Oliver Letwin, to hold votes on alternatives to her plan.
Mr Harrington resigned so he could back the Letwin amendment.
He was joined by Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt and health minister Steve Brine
In his letter of resignation, Mr Harrington said: "I hope you will now act in the national interest and enable Parliament this week to find a consensus which we can use as our negotiating position moving forward. I believe this is the only way to ensure true democracy."
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Industry & Energy last month said he was prepared to rebel and quit, if necessary in a vote for Parliament to "take control" of the process by backing an amendment - a legislative tool - then being put before the Commons by Labour's Yvette Cooper and Conservative Oliver Letwin.
The Watford MP insisted this would be the "honourable thing" to do.
READ MORE: Brexit: What will MPs vote on tonight?
Harrington and fellow ministers Claire Perry and Margot James said last month that Mrs May must promise that she will rule out the possibility of the UK leaving the EU without a deal if her agreement is rejected again, and instead seek a way to delay.
Mr Harrington, said then that it was "absolutely absurd" that, with 31 days to go before the UK is due to leave, a no-deal exit was still a possibility.
"The idea that no deal is a negotiating tool is absolutely incorrect. No-one believes it in the EU. As far as we are concerned the responsible thing is to rule it out."
The Watford MP said at the time he would vote for a 'Cooper Letwin' amendment to delay Brexit.
Asked whether he would resign or defy the Prime Minister to sack him, he said: "I think the honourable thing to do would be to resign, assuming it's a whipped vote of the Government.
"I think it's reasonable to say that if you vote against a proper, whipped vote of the Government (you should resign).
"But I hope that's not necessary because of course I support the Prime Minister's main policy, which is the Prime Minister's deal, which is an excellent way to deal with Brexit."
The three ministerial resignations put the total number quittingTheresa May's government at 29 outside reshuffles.
That's the same number as Blair and four more than Thatcher, according to Institute for Government data.
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