UK Defense Secretary quits Cabinet after Boris Johnson takes over as new British PM

Penny Mourdaunt, Theresa May's Defense Secretary, has resigned from her post moments after Boris Johnson's appointment as Prime Minister. 

She's said on Twitter that she will be "heading to the backbenches."

That's a slightly more unexpected departure than those of moderate Conservatives who quit earlier in the day.


I’m heading to the backbenches from where the PM will have my full support, as will my successors at @DefenceHQ & @WomenEqualities
Thank you to everyone who’s helped me get things done, especially our Armed Forces and civilians in defence for the last 85 days. We achieved much🇬🇧— Penny Mordaunt MP (@PennyMordaunt) July 24, 2019

Hammond and Stewart were the first to quit cabinet before Boris Johnson takes over today.

Philip Hammond announced his resignation as chancellor and was shortly followed by International Development secretary Rory Stewart and Justice Secretary David Gauke. 

The trio say they cannot support Mr Johnson’s ‘do or die’ commitment to take Britain out of the EU by the deadline of October 31. 

Minister for the Cabinet Office David Lidington, known as the De facto deputy prime minister, has also quit his post.

After Boris Johnson visited Buckingham Palace to form a government as he was invited to do so by the British Queen, Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt said she is ‘heading to the backbenches from where the PM will have my full support as will my successors’.