Brexit: Boris Johnson's Brother Resigns From Government As UK Parliament Falls Apart

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson dealt a fresh blow in the Brexit agenda, this time a personal one, as his little brother announced his decision to quit politics.

Jo Johnson announced that he was resigning from the government and stepping down as a member of Parliament after nine years of service. Jo, who is the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, announced his decision via Twitter on Thursday, saying he was torn between “family loyalty and national interests,” BBC reported.

“It’s been an honour to represent Orpington for 9 years & to serve as a minister under three PMs. In recent weeks I’ve been torn between family loyalty and the national interest - it’s an unresolvable tension & time for others to take on my roles as MP & Minister. #overandout,” he tweeted.

It is not the first time Jo Johnson has decided to resign over Brexit. In Nov. 2018, he quit over then Prime Minister Theresa May’s troubled EU withdrawal plan. Jo Johnson will step down as a Member of Parliament at the next election.

The Prime Minister’s office put out a statement regarding Jo’s exit, thanking him for his service.

"The Prime Minister would like to thank Jo Johnson for his service. He has been a brilliant, talented minister and a fantastic MP. The PM, as both a politician and brother, understands this will not have been an easy matter for Jo.”

"The constituents of Orpington could not have asked for a better representative," the statement said.

Jo who is a firm Remainer and shares vastly different views with his brother Boris on the Brexit Agenda had also been unhappy about the purging of rebel MPs in the conservative party, who had voted against the PM’s exit plans.

The PM’s headfast approach to dealing with the exit has seen a lot of backlash with the resignation of Jo only making matters worse as one of the oldest legislatures in the world continues to sink under the Brexit battle.

While conservative MP’s have been supporting the no-deal Brexit claiming it would give Britain the freedom to manage its own law, trade deals and border arrangements, the rebel MP’s in the parliament allied to deliver a significant blow to the U.K. government by passing a bill to oppose it.

The Prime Minister’s attempt to call for a snap election on Oct. 15 too was blocked by the Labour Party and other opposition lawmakers, with the matter put for a debate and vote on Monday.

However, regardless of the outcome, the government is preparing for a no-deal withdrawal, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said.