Prominent Brexit supporter Andrea Leadsom has resigned from British Prime Minister Theresa May's government, piling more pressure on the UK leader to quit.
May has vowed to press on despite opposition from MPs and other ministers to her bid to get her Brexit deal through parliament by softening her stance on a second referendum and customs arrangements.
Leader of the House of Commons Leadsom said she could not announce the new Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which will implement Britain's departure, in parliament on Thursday as she did not believe in it.
"I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the referendum result," Leadsom said in a resignation letter to May on Wednesday.
"It is therefore with great regret and with a heavy heart that I resign from the government."
A Downing Street spokesman praised Leadsom and expressed disappointment at her decision, but added "the prime minister remains focused on delivering the Brexit people voted for".
May might still try to press on with her new Brexit plan, which includes a vote on whether to hold a second Brexit referendum - once her legislation passes the first stage - as well as closer trading arrangements with the EU.
Leadsom said she had always maintained a second referendum would be dangerously divisive.
"No one has wanted you to succeed more than I have," Leadsom wrote to May. "But I do now urge you to make the right decisions in the interests of the country, this government and our party."
Labour chair Ian Lavery said Leadsom's resignation underlined that "the prime minister's authority is shot and her time is up".
"For the sake of the country, Theresa May needs to go, and we need an immediate general election," he said.
