May’s Brexit ministers quit in protest of draft agreement

Two top members have quit British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Cabinet over Brexit, as she battles for Parliament’s approval on a “divorce deal” for the U.K. to leave the European Union.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and work and pensions minister Esther McVey both resigned Thursday, according to multiple news outlets, as did at least two junior ministers.

The departures come less than 24 hours after May announced that her Cabinet endorsed her Brexit deal following a lengthy meeting earlier this week.

The U.K. is set to leave the EU on March 29, leaving less than five months for negotiators to reach a deal.

{mosads}May stood by the plan in remarks to Parliament, urging lawmakers to back her deal.

“We can choose to leave with no deal. We can risk no Brexit at all. Or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated — this deal,” she said, according to Reuters.

The departures indicate a significant blow to May’s authority, and many have speculated that Raab’s resignation means he is gearing up to challenge her leadership. Raab is the second Brexit secretary to resign in the last five months, after David Davis.

Opposition to the draft deal from pro-Brexit politicians are largely tied to the proposal of a “backstop,” which would establish a customs union between the U.K. and the EU.

EU leaders are prepared to sign off on the draft deal later this month.