Theresa May has been hit by a second ministerial resignation over her Brexitpolicy after her decision to hold talks with Jeremy Corbyn sparked fury among Tory MPs.

Chris Heaton-Harris resigned from the Brexit department, joining Welsh minister Nigel Adams, in quitting in protest at the prime minister’s decision to seek a further delay to Britain’s exit from the EU.

The prime minister has pledged to seek an extension to the Article 50 process to try to forge a cross-party consensus for a Brexit deal, ahead of the scheduled departure day on April 12.