UK Gov't Whip Gareth Johnson Resigns Ahead of Brexit Parl't Vote

13:19 GMT, 14 January 2019

The final vote on the deal is slated for 15 January. However, Prime Minister Theresa May does not have enough votes, as the opposition Labour Party and even some Conservative lawmakers oppose the agreement, negotiated by the government.

Sputnik

"It is with regret that I hereby tender my resignation as a Minister in the Government Whips' Office", Johnson wrote in a letter to May, published on his Facebook page. "This agreement prevents us from taking back control and instead could leave us perpetually constrained by the European Union".

He cited "personal objections" to the Brexit plan in general, and the backstop solution for the Irish border in particular.

The politician has served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union since June 2017.

How They Try to Stop Brexit

14 January 2019, 08:24 GMT

In order to get the deal through Parliament, the prime minister needs 318 votes, but 117 of the 317 Conservative MPs voted against her in a confidence vote on 12 December. Additionally, the PM will have to gain the support of several Labour and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MPs.

The UK has planned to leave the bloc by 29 March; however, earlier in the day, President of the European Council Donald Tusk and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker hinted that Brussels was ready to extend the transition period for London.