Thread by @ianbirrell

Since everyone attending @BorisJohnson's cabinet has signed up to backing No Deal Brexit, here is what some of his ministers said in the recent past. Such flip-flopping as they put personal ambition over national interest underlines why so many people feel dismayed by politics

Ben Wallace, defence sec, said in Nov 2018 'we must make a deal for the sake of all our security' since leaving without one would mean being 'locked out of many of the EU security tools that currently help our police, law enforcement and criminal justice department do their job'

Nicky Morgan, culture, says on her website 'I do not support leaving the EU without a deal as this would severely impact on the economy, employers and the finances of households across the country and in my constituency. I pressed Theresa May to avoid this scenario.'

Amber Rudd, work & pensions, said in parliament 'we know that No Deal will be the most damaging.'

She said it was better to delay Brexit than suffer No Deal.

And asked if she'd back a second referendum over No Deal, replied: “Is that preferable to no deal? Absolutely.”

Brandon Lewis, home office, said 'If we leave without a deal we will have disruption, our economy will change, people will lose their jobs.' Also said succinctly that 'no deal is a bad thing for the country.'

Robert Buckland, justice, in a letter to constituents: 'I don’t believe [No Deal] would be a good outcome for our national security, our work to combat crime or for our economy. The shock that would be caused to our economy is not something any of us want to contemplate.'

Jo Johnson, biz & education, wrote on a blog arguing for a second referendum that No Deal Brexit 'will cause disruption, delay and deep damage to our economy. There are real questions about how we will be able to guarantee access to fresh food and medicine.'

He added that 'inflicting such serious economic and political harm on the country will leave an indelible impression of incompetence in the minds of the public. It cannot be what you wanted nor did the 2016 referendum provide any mandate for it.'

Spot on.

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, reportedly told cabinet he could not guarantee people would not die as a result of a no-deal Brexit.

'No deal is not pretty,' he later admitted.

And yet he still sold out his principles to cling on to his job.