British prime minister Theresa May has suffered 18 resignations from her government since last November, ten of which have been related to her approach to Brexit. Here is the list:
Michael Fallon - Resigned as defence minister in November 2017 after a journalist accused him of sexual harassment.
Priti Patel - The aid minister also resigned in November 2017 over undisclosed meetings with Israeli officials.
Damian Green - Quit in December 2017 from his role as May's effective deputy after an internal investigation found he had made misleading comments about pornography on computers in his parliamentary office.
Justine Greening - She resigned in January after refusing to take a new job in a cabinet reshuffle.
Amber Rudd Stepped down as home secretary (interior minister) in April over the government's treatment of some long-term Caribbean residents who were wrongly labelled illegal immigrants.
Greg Hands - The junior trade minister resigned from the government in June to oppose its plans to build a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport.
Phillip Lee - A junior justice minister, Lee resigned over the government's handling of Brexit in June.
David Davis - He quit as Brexit Secretary in July in protest at May's "Chequers" plan to keep close trade ties with the EU after Brexit.
Steve Baker - He resigned as a junior Brexit minister in July, also over the Chequers plan.
Boris Johnson - Resigned as foreign secretary in July over the Chequers plan.
Andrew Griffiths - The minister for small businesses resigned over allegations around a sex-texting scandal in July.
Guto Bebb - A junior defence minister, he resigned in July after voting against a government-backed Brexit amendment.
Tracey Crouch - She resigned as sports minister earlier this month, accusing the government of delaying a proposed reform of gambling regulations. The government later changed its mind.
Jo Johnson - The junior transport minister, younger brother of Boris, resigned last week, calling for another referendum to avoid the vassalage or chaos that he said May's Brexit plan would unleash. Unlike his brother, Jo Johnson campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU in the 2016 referendum.
Shailesh Vara - The junior Northern Ireland minister resigned from the government on Thursday (15) after the cabinet approved a draft divorce deal, saying this will leave the UK "in a half-way house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation."
Dominic Raab - Britain's Brexit minister resigned on Thursday in protest at the government's plans for leaving the European Union, saying that the Irish "backstop" arrangement was now the starting point for discussions on future ties, which could severely prejudice the second phase of negotiations.
Esther McVey - The welfare minister resigned on Thursday accusing the prime minister of failing to honour the result of the 2016 referendum.
Suella Braverman - The junior Brexit minister resigned on Thursday saying the proposed divorce deal was not what the British people voted for and risked breaking up the United Kingdom.
AN ASIAN writer has explained how his new book makes Britain’s imperial past “accessible, engaging and thought-provoking” for a younger audience.
Award-winning author and journalist Sathnam Sanghera’s new book, Journeys of Empire, explores empire through 10 journeys he described as being “extraordinary”. Sanghera said his book, published last month by Puffin UK, is “a way of helping children understand how Britain’s biggest story still shapes the world today.”
“We’re not taught this history very well,” he told Eastern Eye.
“The empire is morally complex – sometimes we were good, sometimes bad – so, how do you even begin talking about it? It’s also contentious. There are millions of us whose families were colonised, and millions whose families were the colonisers.”
Teachers cannot teach what they themselves were never taught, Sanghera pointed out.
“There are multiple layers to why British people are so bad at talking about this history. It touches on race, misogyny and geopolitics. It’s easier just not to talk about it.”
And , the cover of his book
Following the success of his bestselling children’s title Stolen History, Sanghera’s this latest work continues Sanghera’s mission to write for readers aged nine and above. With a focus on human experiences, Sanghera said he wanted show that history is not just a list of dates or conquests – it’s a tapestry of stories that connect people.
Born in Wolverhampton to Punjabi immigrant parents, he began school unable to speak English. Later he graduated with first-class honours in English language and literature from Christ’s College, Cambridge.
He has since built a career as a writer and journalist.
His memoir, The Boy with the Topknot, and his novel, Marriage Material, were both shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards. Empireland, Sanghera’s exploration of Britain’s colonial legacy, was longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non- Fiction, named a Book of the Year at the 2022 National Book Awards, and inspired the Channel 4 documentary series Empire State of Mind.
His first children’s book, Stolen History, introduced young readers to the complex and often overlooked realities of empire. With Journeys of Empire, Sanghera aims to go further. “When I finally learned about the British empire, it changed how I saw myself, how I saw Britain, and how I saw India,” he said.
“It seemed obvious that you’d want to give this gift to young people – because your 40s is a bit late to be learning all this.”
Sanghera said the 10 journeys in the book take readers across continents and centuries, revealing both the ambition and the brutality of empire.
“The British empire covered a quarter of the world’s surface and a large portion of its population. It was seven times the size of the Roman empire,” he said.
Aiming to ensure diversity in both perspective and geography, Sanghera said he chose stories from various countries and different phases of the 400-year history.
Alongside India and Mahatma Gandhi, readers will learn about Guyana’s indentured labour system, Gertrude Bell’s adventures in Iraq, and the British invasion of Tibet led by Francis Younghusband.
“I wanted to highlight areas often left out of mainstream narratives,” the writer said. The stories are written with an accessible and honest tone, and with humour.
“Violence is a tricky area,” Sanghera said. “You can’t go into graphic detail, but you also shouldn’t whitewash it. The violence and racism of colonialism were intrinsic. “I tried to strike a balance - acknowledging the brutality without overwhelming young readers.”
Writing for children isn’t much different from writing for adults, Sanghera said.
“You still need engaging stories and to hold attention. The main thing is to avoid big words that might put them off.”
He pointed out how storytelling can counter the allure of digital screens.
“Kids are addicted to screens, and reading rates are falling globally. That’s disastrous for mental health, intellectual development, and politics,” he said.
“When you get news from screens, you’re in an echo chamber – you’re not being challenged or taught to think in a nuanced way.”
Sanghera’s hope is that stories of Journeys of Empire – from pirates to princes and explorers to rebels – will draw in young readers to a world of curiosity and reflection. He said, “The British empire is a complex story. Even the ‘good guys’ had flaws. That’s what makes it worth understanding.”
At the heart of his book is a message about complexity and contradiction. “The empire involved slavery and the abolition of slavery. It caused environmental destruction and inspired environmentalism. We live in a world that struggles with nuance, but that’s what makes us human,” Sanghera said.
“My hope is that readers – kids and adults – learn that opposite things can be true at the same time.”
After six years of writing about empire, Sanghera said he’s ready for a change. His next book will focus on the late pop star George Michael, due out in June next year.
“I thought George Michael would be a nice break from empire. But then I learned that his father came from Cyprus - which was under British rule. The reason he left Cyprus was because of the British. So, even George Michael’s story connects back to empire. You can’t escape it, wherever you go.”
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