David Davis has said he doesn't have to be "very clever" or "know that much" to do his job as Brexit secretary.

The Cabinet Secretary said he just has to be "calm" and admitted that last Monday's botched attempt at getting an agreement with the European Union to move to Brexit trade negotiations had tested that ability.

Theresa May's attempt to reach a Brexit deal on the Irish border fell apart at the start of last week after a damaging public row with the Democratic Unionst Party over Northern Ireland’s future.

On an extraordinary day in Brussels, EU leaders raised expectations that a deal on the terms of the UK’s withdrawal was about to be reached, only for Mrs May to return empty-handed following a serious miscalculation over the DUP’s response to a key negotiating point.

Speaking to LBC radio, Mr Davis said: "What's the requirement of my job? I don't have to be very clever, I don't have to know that much, I do just have to be calm. And that did test the calmness a bit, a little bit."