Conservative MP Dominic Grieve has said he finds it "impossible" that the former Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, was surprised by the draft Brexit deal.

Mr Raab handed in a letter of resignation last week over the withdrawal agreement proposed by the Prime Minister, claiming it posed "a very real threat" to the integrity of the UK.

He added that he could not "reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country", and raised his concerns over an infinite backstop.

However, Mr Grieve said it was "almost unbelievable" that the Brexit secretary did not know how negotiations were proceeding.

Appearing on the breakfast show, the MP for Beaconsfield said: "I find it somewhat extraordinary that a Secretary of State should say that he didn't know how the negotiations were proceeding and about to be concluded. In fact, I find it almost unbelievable.

'Uncontrollable and dismal process'

Dominic Grieve. Image: Getty

"I have no doubt that as this crisis has deepend over a two year period, number 10 Downing Street and the Prime Minister have taken more and more power to the centre in trying to keep control of what has turned into a rather uncontrollable and dismal process.

"If you're signed up in government and you're in the Cabinet, normally I would expect you to be able to share the document and to know the direction of travel of this negotiation."

He added: "I find it impossible to believe that the Secretaries of State of exiting EU, whether it's David Davis or Dominic Raab, were not aware of the sort of direction in which this negotiation was going."

MP for North East Cambridgeshire, Stephen Barclay, has been appointed Brexit secretary following Mr Raab's resignation.

He had previously been a health Minister since January this year.