Defense Minister Johnny Mercer Intends to Resign from Government, Sky News Says | Political news

One of Boris Johnson’s ministers and top funders has informed the government that he intends to step down, Sky News has understood.

Johnny Mercer will see the Prime Minister within hours to submit his resignation from his post as Minister of Defense, People and Veterans Affairs.

It comes after weeks of discontent at the slow progress of legislation to protect veterans.

It appears that Mr Mercer has not yet officially tendered his resignation and wants to explain his reasons directly to the Prime Minister.

Mr Johnson has already managed to convince key figures in his administration not to step down, including Lord Frost, his former Brexit negotiator who ended up with a promotion after threatening to walk.

However, sources close to Mr. Mercer have not denied his intention to resign.

Last week, the House of Lords blocked government efforts to protect veterans and serving military personnel from “vexatious” prosecutions for alleged historic war crimes – the law defended by Mr. Mercer.

The peers largely defeated the Government by demanding that war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and torture be all excluded from future legal guarantees for British troops fighting abroad.