image expired

The farming minister said he would be voting for her deal when it comes back to Parliament next month.

But he feared the PM's offer of votes on delaying Brexit could lead to the "final humiliation of our country".

Mr Eustice is a longstanding Brexiteer, who stood as a UKIP MEP candidate before joining the Conservatives.

He is the 14th member of Theresa May's government to resign over Brexit.

The MP for Camborne and Redruth in Cornwall said he was resigning with "tremendous sadness".

But in his resignation letter, he said: "I fear that developments this week will lead to a sequence of events culminating in the EU dictating the terms of any extension requested and the final humiliation of our country."

He added: "We cannot negotiate a successful Brexit unless we are prepared to walk through the door."

The ex-farmer was a former press secretary to David Cameron - and played a leading role in Mr Cameron's 2005 Conservative leadership campaign.

His resignation comes after Theresa May's decision on Tuesday to allow MPs a vote on delaying the UK's departure from the EU, or ruling out a no-deal Brexit, if they again reject the withdrawal deal she has negotiated with the European Union.

CLA President Tim Breitmeyer said: “We are saddened to hear of George Eustice’s decision to resign as Farming Minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He has held the position since 2015, and has maintained a strong voice on behalf of the farming industry during that time.

“His farming background and first hand knowledge and experience have been invaluable in the many areas of his brief. The farming community has lost a key ally at this critical time for the industry, which faces significant uncertainty and change.”