Three British Cabinet ministers are set to resign the day Boris Johnson, if as expected, becomes Britain's next prime minister, The Times newspaper reported on Thursday. 

British Justice Minister David Gauke is set to resign soon after Theresa May completes her last prime minister's questions on next Wednesday, the newspaper reported on its web site. 

Philip Hammond, the country's finance minister, and Rory Stewart, the international development minister, are also considering leaving before Johnson becomes prime minister, the report said. 

Earlier on Thursday, British lawmakers approved proposals to make it harder for the next prime minister to force through a no-deal Brexit by suspending parliament, showing again their resolve to stop a divorce from the European Union without an agreement. 

The three-year Brexit crisis is deepening as Johnson, the favorite to win the premiership, has pledged to leave the EU with or without a transition deal on October 31, setting Britain on a collision course with the bloc and his own parliament. 

Johnson, a Conservative ex-foreign minister, has refused to rule out "proroguing," or suspending, the House of Commons to prevent lawmakers from passing legislation to block his Brexit plan if he tries to exit without a deal. 

(Cover: A combination photo of British Justice Minister David Gauke (L), Finance Minister Philip Hammond (C) and International Development Minister Rory Stewart (R). /VCG Photo)