Conservative Party Vice Chairman Rehman Chishti Quits Over Brexit Deal, Asia Bibi's Asylum Case

Mounting further pressure on British prime minister Theresa May, Gillingham and Rainham MP, Rehman Chishti has resigned on Thursday (15) as Conservative party junior vice chairman and prime minister’s trade envoy to Pakistan.

Two reasons -  the draft agreement prepared for leaving the EU as well as the UK's handling of Asia Bibi's asylum case - have forced him to resign as Conservative Party vice chair, Chishti said.

Now, Chishti is the fifth leading British politician to leave Theresa May’s team after Suella Braverman, work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara all left on Thursday morning as the list of Conservative resignations continues.

“My letter of resignation sent to PM @theresa_may stepping down as Vice Chairman @Conservatives & PM Trade Envoy to Pakistan. 1. Cannot support Draft EU Withdrawal Agreement. 2. Very disappointed by lack of leadership shown by UK Gov to do morally right thing in Asia Bibi Case”, tweeted Chishti on his resignation.

“…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 which I stood for when elected in 2017, and have publically advocated for since,” Rehman Chishti said in his letter to the prime minister May.

Chishti is the third Asian origin to leave Theresa May’s team. Earlier, Shailesh Vara and Suella Braverman left May’s team.

Earlier, Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara, who backed remain in the EU referendum, has quit prime minister Theresa May’s government, highlighting the challenge she faces in winning parliament’s backing for her draft Brexit deal.

Suella Braverman resigned as a Brexit minister. She said that she was "unable to sincerely support the deal agreed yesterday by Cabinet".