May hit by resignations as parliament debates Brexit deal

A number of UK ministers have resigned saying they cannot support British Prime Minister Theresa May's deal on withdrawing from the European Union.

The resignations come as Mrs May issued an ultimatum to the House of Commons: back her Brexit deal, leave with no deal, or have no Brexit at all.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey and junior ministers Shailesh Vara and Suella Braverman all tendered their resignations this morning.

Earlier this morning, Mr Vara quit as Northern Ireland Minister, saying he cannot support Mrs May's Brexit agreement, which he said "leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation".

In a statement posted on Twitter, he said: "We are a proud nation and it is a say day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart.

"We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better."