Boris Johnson's brother quits govt, parliament over Brexit

The familial rifts caused by Brexit were displayed in spectacular fashion on Thursday as the prime minister's own brother walked out of government and parliament over Boris Johnson's behaviour.

Jo Johnson, an advocate of a second referendum who surprisingly took a job in his brother's administration, said he was “torn between family loyalty and the national interest”,

“It’s an unresolvable tension & time for others to take on my roles as MP & Minister,” he added.

Jo Johnson resigned as a minister under Theresa May in protest at her withdrawal agreement, making him the first to resign twice over the same issue.

Despite his political differences with brother Boris, he accepted a job as a universities minister, having previously held a transport brief under May.

It remained unclear whether Jo Johnson had quit with immediate effect as a minister or whether he would stand down at the next general election.