Who is Nick Boles, why has the Tory MP been forced to quit and what has he said about Brexit?
What exactly has the Tory MP said about the never-ending divorce we call Brexit? Here's the lowdown...
NICK Boles resigned from his local Conservative Party after a row over Brexit amid attempts to have him deselected at the next election.
But how did he get into trouble over the UK's departure from the EU? Here's the lowdown...
Who is Nick Boles?
Nick Boles is a politician from the Conservative Party.
He is also the Member of Parliament for the Grantham and Stamford constituency in Lincolnshire and was the Minister of State for Skills from 2014 - 2016.
His father is Sir Jack Boles, who was the Head of the National Trust from 1975 to 1983.
The 53-year-old was a Westminster City councillor and the Director of Policy Exchange before he entered parliament.
He is the brother-in-law of former Conservative MP Dudley Fishburn.
What has the Tory MP said about Brexit?
Boles vowed to quit and bring down Theresa May if she goes for a No Deal Brexit.
The influential ex-minister said he would resign the Tory whip rather than accept the policy.
Today, after No Deal has been brought perilously closer after May's deal was repeatedly voted down, he said he would resign with "immediate effect".
He added that he would continue to take the Tory whip in Parliament if it was offered to him on "acceptable terms".
Mr Boles is backing the PM's deal but is also pushing her to pivot to a Norway-style plan B for a soft Brexit.
He was a staunch backer of Remain at the election and has advocated staying in the customs union and single market since the vote.
Boles has caused fury with his local association by taking part in cross-party talks about Brexit, which is seen as undermining May's authority.
What did he say about his resignation?
According to the , Boles described his resignation as a matter of principle.
He wrote: "I regret that my relationship with you should end in this way. But a politician without principles is worthless.
"I am in no doubt about my duty, which is to be true to my convictions and to dedicate the rest of my time in Parliament to the best interests of the people I was elected to serve."
He also indicated he would still like to vote with the party if it was on "acceptable terms".
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However, Councillor Martin Hill, vice president of the Grantham and Stamford Conservative Association, told members they had been "betrayed by their parliamentary representative".
He said: "As you are all aware, Nick has been at odds with the local party and the prime minister for some time, so this announcement does not come as a complete surprise, but the timing does leave a lot to be desired."
The search for a replacement candidate will begin at the group's Annual General Meeting later in the month.