- Brexit Secretary David Davis quits Theresa May's government in dramatic late-night resignation.
- Davis, who campaigned for Brexit, told Prime Minister May that it is looking "less and less likely" that she'll keep her promise to leave the single market and customs union.
- He told BBC radio:
- May said she was "sorry" to see Davis go in two-and-a-half page response, but disagreed with his description of the state of Brexit talks.
- Davis quit after May revealed a plan to stay wedded to EU trade and customs rules.
ADVERTISEMENT
Brexit Secretary David Davis quits Theresa May's government
The resignation of David Davis came two days after the UK cabinet supported Prime Minister Theresa May's plan for a "soft" Brexit. "The best person to do this would be somebody who believes in it, not me," Davis told BBC radio.
ADVERTISEMENT
Recommended articles
LONDON — UK Brexit Secretary David Davis resigned from Theresa May's government on Sunday night, in protest against the prime minister's approach to negotiations with the EU and shift towards a softer Brexit.
Davis, who has been leading negotiations for the UK, said in a letter to May that
May is set to announce Davis' successor on Monday morning.
ADVERTISEMENT
In a letter responding to Davis, the prime minister said she was "sorry" about his departure but added that she did not agree with his characterisation of the state of Brexit talks.
Related content
Davis dramatic late-night resignation came just days after he along with the rest of May's Cabinet agreed to support the prime minister's plan for a softer Brexit at a meeting of ministers in Buckinghamshire.
Under May's proposal, the UK would stay wedded to the EU standards for the trade and goods and collect EU tariffs on the bloc's behalf, in order to preserve frictionless trade and the open Irish border.
However, it would make new free trade deals with certain countries, like the USA, much less likely, and would leave the UK under some influence of the European Court of Justice. An eight-page critique of the plan, circulated by pro-Brexit Conservative MPs, described it as the "worst of all words."
ADVERTISEMENT
"The Cabinet decision on Friday crystallised the problem," Davis said about the plan in his letter to May, calling himself a "reluctant conscript" if he had stayed in the role to push May's plans.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Davis' resignation proved the Conservative government was
FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA
ADVERTISEMENT
Recommended articles
A look into the diverse tax reforms being implemented across Africa
Dubai firm to lend South Sudan $12.9 billion in exchange for 20 years oil repayment
China dethrones USA as the most influential global power in Africa: Report
Major African economies expecting inflation ease into next year, except Nigeria
10 African countries with the lowest price changes in household commodities
Dangote refinery outranks Europe's 10 largest refining facilities
Africa may just have the lowest level of cyber threats compared to other regions
A look into Kenya’s Shs1.1 billion climate funding from the UK
