Boris Johnson's brother, Jo, resigns from cabinet

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's brother, Jo, has resigned as junior minister and said he would step down as a lawmaker, citing a conflict between family loyalty and the national interest.

“Its been an honour to represent Orpington for 9 years & to serve as a minister under three PMs,” Jo Johnson said.

“In recent weeks I’ve been torn between family loyalty and the national interest - its an unresolvable tension & time for others to take on my roles as MP & Minister,” he tweeted.

His resignation comes days after the Prime Minister expelled 21 Conservative lawmakers from the



party for failing to back his Brexit strategy, including Winston Churchill’s grandson and a former finance minister.

Since taking office in July, Mr. Boris Johnson has tried to corral the Conservative Party, which is deeply divided over Brexit, behind his strategy of leaving the European Union on Oct. 31, with or without a deal.

Mr. Jo Johnson had previously expressed backing for a second referendum on whether Britain should leave the EU, but accepted a job as a junior minister in the business and education departments when his brother became the prime minister. He had been an MP since 2010, serving in several ministerial roles.