Ciao Ciao
Conservative party junior vice chairman Rehman Chishti resigned his post this afternoon, continuing an avalanche of departures in Theresa May's top team.
He said his reasons for resigning were both the draft agreement for leaving the EU as well as the UK's handling of Asia Bibi's asylum case - Chishti is also the PM's trade envoy to Pakistan.
Chishti is now the fifth significant politician to hand in their notice today (Thursday.) Suella Braverman, work and pensions
secretary Esther McVey,
Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and
Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara all left this morning. The
list of Conservative resignations continues.
The latest departure said he was disappointed with the "lack of leadership" shown by Theresa May.
https://twitter.com/Rehman_Chishti/status/1063083736164720640
Chishti wrote: "At the outset, this, for me, is about delivering to the British people at the General Election last year in our manifesto, that leaving the European Union means leaving the single market and customs union.
"It would not be appropriate for me to continue in these roles, which I very much enjoy, as it would require me to advocate for a position which I feel is contrary to our firm manifesto commitment."
