Unic Press UK: Brexit Secretary David Davis has resigned his appointment following his letter to the Prime Minister Theresa May.
In a letter dated Sunday, the 8th July 2018, Davis said:
“As you know, there have been a significant number of occasions in the last year or so on which I have disagreed with the Number 10 policy line, ranging from accepting the Commission’s sequencing of negotiations through to the language on Northern Ireland in the December Joint Report. At each stage I have accepted collective responsibility because it is part of my task to find workable compromises, and because I considered it was still possible to deliver on the mandate of the referendum, and on our manifesto commitment to leave the Customs Union and the Single Market.
“I am afraid that I think the current trend of policy and tactics is making that look less and less likely. Whether it is the progressive dilution of what I thought was a firm Chequers agreement in February on right to diverge, or the unnecessary delays of the start of the White Paper, or the presentation of a backstop proposal that omitted the strict conditions that I requested and believed that we had agreed, the general direction of policy will leave us in at best a weak negotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one. . .
“ In my view the inevitable consequence of the proposed policies will be to make the supposed control by Parliament illusory rather than real. . .
While I have been grateful to you for the opportunity to serve, it is with great regret that I tender my resignation from the Cabinet with immediate effect.”
In her reply, the Prime Minister Theresa May accepted Davis’ resignation, saying that the current approach, tactic and policy of the government, including the comprehensive proposal agreed at Chequers on Friday, are:
“consistent with the mandate of the referendum and with the commitments we laid out in our general election manifesto: leaving the single market and the customs union but seeking a deep and special partnership, including a comprehensive free trade and customs agreement; ending the vast annual contributions to the EU; and pursuing fair, orderly negotiations, minimising disruption and giving as much certainty as possible on both sides benefit. . . I am sorry that you have chosen to leave the government.”
