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David Davis steps down as Brexit secretary in blow to PM – live updates David Davis steps down as Brexit secretary in blow to PM – live updates
(35 minutes later)
The pound lost earlier gains after news of Davis’s resignation emerged and was effectively flat at $1.330. Sterling had climbed to $1.3328 earlier in the session, its highest since June 14.
Yukio Ishizuki, senior currency strategist at Daiwa Securities in Tokyo, said: “If negotiations with the European Union do not progress, there is the possibility of a hard Brexit, so I think it would become a reason to sell.
“On the other hand, there is also the possibility negotiations will progress after the minister is changed ... and the pound could be rapidly bought back.”
David Davis, the UK’s Brexit secretary, has resigned from the cabinet following Friday’s summit at Chequers.
In his resignation letter he blamed the “dilution” of what he said was a firm Chequers agreement, delays to the White Paper, and omissions from the “backstop” customs proposal that would leave the UK in a “weak negotiating position” at best. He says his role requires an “enthusiastic believer” in May’s approach rather than a “reluctant conscript”.
He was followed by deputy, Steve Baker, and another Brexit minister Suella Braverman.
Theresa May responded with a letter voicing her sorrow that he is leaving just eight months before the UK’s official withdrawal from the EU. She said she disagreed with his characterisation of what was agreed at Chequers on Friday, saying powers would be returned to the UK from Brussels and that MPs would get to vote on areas where the idea of a “common rulebook” with the EU would be applied.
Vocal pro-Brexit MPs welcomed Davis’s move, with Andrea Jenkyns saying the next move was to make this a “game changer for Brexit” and calling for Boris Johnson to act. Nigel Farage has joined in the praise, calling May “duplicitous”.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the pro-Brexit European Research Group faction, said the prime minister “would be well advised to reconsider” the Brexit vision she believed she had secured at Friday’s Cabinet summit at Chequers.
Jeremy Corbyn said the resignation showed the prime minister had no authority left and was incapable of delivering Brexit.
So with murmurings of no-confidence votes, what is the process in the event of a leadership contest?
First, 15% of Conservative MPs must write to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee. In this parliament that means 48 MPs. He must then call a vote of no confidence. I should say at this point that last night many of May’s supporters in the parliamentary party believe she could win any such vote.
And here comes the Guardian front page, which also takes in the extraordinary events in Thailand and Salisbury.And here comes the Guardian front page, which also takes in the extraordinary events in Thailand and Salisbury.
The Times puts it front and centre, with three pages inside too.The Times puts it front and centre, with three pages inside too.
Telegraph says what everyone is wondering.Telegraph says what everyone is wondering.
Mirror puts it on page two, not even a treasured right-hand page.Mirror puts it on page two, not even a treasured right-hand page.
Sun gives it maybe a five out of 10.Sun gives it maybe a five out of 10.
Here are the UK front pages we have gathered so far. Guardian, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Daily Telegraph, and the Sun.Here are the UK front pages we have gathered so far. Guardian, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Daily Telegraph, and the Sun.
The shadow foreign secretary builds on the growing theme of a government in chaos.The shadow foreign secretary builds on the growing theme of a government in chaos.
Government resignations since autumn:1 November 2017 - Fallon8 November 2017 - Patel20 December 2017 - Green29 April 2018 - Rudd 8 January 2018 - Greening8 July 2018 - DavisThere have been six resignations in 249 days. That’s one every six weeksGovernment resignations since autumn:1 November 2017 - Fallon8 November 2017 - Patel20 December 2017 - Green29 April 2018 - Rudd 8 January 2018 - Greening8 July 2018 - DavisThere have been six resignations in 249 days. That’s one every six weeks
Laurence Robertson said Davis had taken “the only genuine option available to him”, adding that “rather than just appoint someone else to replace him, the PM needs to recognise that his resignation represents the views of many Conservative MPs, activists and voters.”Laurence Robertson said Davis had taken “the only genuine option available to him”, adding that “rather than just appoint someone else to replace him, the PM needs to recognise that his resignation represents the views of many Conservative MPs, activists and voters.”
Jacob Rees-Mogg has told Reuters that Davis’s resignation was “crucially important” because it showed the extent of concerns about the Chequers agreement. “If the Brexit secretary could not support them they cannot genuinely be delivering Brexit,” he said.
Well done @DavidDavisMP. May's response shows that she is controlled by the civil service. For Brexit to succeed we must get rid of this awful, duplicitous PM. https://t.co/Mmq4jboCpi
A potential collector’s item here:
PM @Theresa_May and Brexit Secretary @DavidDavisMP today signed commemorative copies of the EU (Withdrawal) Act for each of the ministers who worked on this crucial piece of Brexit legislation. pic.twitter.com/mPJ3X9TnKR
David Davis, the UK’s Brexit secretary, has resigned from the cabinet following Friday’s summit at Chequers.
In his resignation letter he blamed the “dilution” of what he said was a firm Chequers agreement, delays to the White Paper, and omissions from the “backstop” customs proposal that would leave the UK in a “weak negotiating position” at best. He says his role requires an “enthusiastic believer” in May’s approach rather than a “reluctant conscript”.
He was followed by deputy, Steve Baker, and another Brexit minister Suella Braverman.
Theresa May responded with a letter voicing her sorrow that he is leaving just eight months before the UK’s official withdrawal from the EU. She said she disagreed with his characterisation of what was agreed at Chequers on Friday, saying powers would be returned to the UK from Brussels and that MPs would get to vote on areas where the idea of a “common rulebook” with the EU would be applied.
Vocal pro-Brexit MPs welcomed Davis’s move, with Andrea Jenkyns saying the next move was to make this a “game changer for Brexit” and calling for Boris Johnson to act.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the pro-Brexit European Research Group faction, said the prime minister “would be well advised to reconsider” the Brexit vision she believed she had secured at Friday’s Cabinet summit at Chequers.
Andrea Leadsom has written a comment piece urging people to back the vision hammered out at Chequers. But it seems it’s back to square one.
“With the prime minister’s specific reassurances to me, around the UK parliament having a say on any tweaks to trade rules, I have given her my backing. Because the fact is, getting the cabinet to agree is one thing. Getting the EU to agree is quite another.”
Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the powerful European Research Group faction within the Tory ranks, earlier told BBC Radio 5 Live that Davis’s resignation should force May to reconsider her approach. “And I think without David Davis there, without his imprimatur, it will be very difficult for them [May’s Brexit proposals] to get the support of Conservative MPs and therefore the prime minister would be well advised to reconsider them.”
The triple resignation throws the spotlight onto who will fill Davis’s seat, and the next moves for the likes of Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Jacob Rees-Mogg among others.
Johnson apparently spoke “passionately” in favour of making May’s soft Brexit deal work after initially saying its defenders were “polishing a turd”. Whichever path he choses now, his stock has suffered after failing to resign over the Heathrow vote and his “fuck business” Brexit outburst.
Gove has been described by Downing Street insiders as “instrumental” in persuading leave cabinet ministers to back May’s plan. But that achievement has now vanished.
Pro-Brexit MPs feeling disillusioned after Chequers might now corral even more closely around Rees-Mogg.
Time will tell.
People’s Vote to put Brexit out of its misery a big step closer after DD’s resignation. Now the Brexiters holding Mrs May hostage are falling out, there isn’t a majority for ANY withdrawal treaty in Parliament
David Davis tops the Guardian’s late edition to cap off a day of extraordinary news.
The Times calls it the “worst crisis since she [Theresa May] lost her government majority”. That happened just over a year ago but may feel for some much longer than that.
Monday's front page: Davis triggers cabinet crisis with resignation. Plus: Murder inquiry launched after Amesbury novichok victim dies. More: https://t.co/n3175DVo7c pic.twitter.com/W9LTEOF5ti