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Theresa May's government was plunged into "absolute chaos" late last night after Brexit Secretary David Davis dramatically resigned over Brexit.

The Prime Minister is fighting for her political life after Mr Davis sensationally quit his Cabinet role overseeing Britain's exit from the European Union.

His devastating resignation letter poured scorn on Theresa May's "progressive dilution" of her Brexit strategy - saying she had handed too much power to the EU leading to a "weak" and "possibly inescapable" negotiating position.

The ex-SAS man warned he had turned into a "reluctant conscript". Later in his first interview since quitting he branded the plan "dangerous".

He was swiftly followed out the door by a second Brexit minister, Steve Baker, a source confirmed.

Mr Davis' exit comes just nine months before the UK officially leaves the EU - and with just weeks of negotiating time left before a deal is needed in October.

Downing Street was due to announce Mr Davis' successor after 9am on Monday, with speculation Theresa May could choose a Remain-backer to support her new, softer position on Brexit.

But the PM - due to address MPs and her party on Monday afternoon - is facing the prospect of a Tory leadership battle. Just 48 MPs need to call for her to quit to trigger a contest.

(Image: Getty Images Europe) (Image: Leon Neal)

David Davis resigned just 48 hours after a Chequers summit where Cabinet had supposedly agreed on a major shift to soft Brexit.

The Prime Minister enraged Brexiteers by proposing a "common rulebook" between Britain and the EU for goods imported to the UK. There were also reports she would compromise with Brussels on migration.

Hours before Mr Davis resigned Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of around 60 Tory Brexiteers, warned he would vote against the "defeatist" plan.

It is understood the Brexit Secretary had taken the weekend to consider his position and future before deciding he could not continue.

Sarah Grady, the wife of Mr Davis' chief of staff Stewart Jackson, declared: "DD decided he couldn’t sellout his own country."

All eyes are now on Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who has not yet publicly spoken in favour of the deal and reportedly described it as a "turd" during the summit.

Brexiteer Tory MP Peter Bone supported David Davis' decision to quit.

"David Davis has done the right thing, a principled and brave decision," he said. "The PM's proposals for a Brexit in name only are not acceptable."

But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "David Davis resigning at such a crucial time shows Theresa May has no authority left and is incapable of delivering Brexit.

"With her Government in chaos, if she clings on, it's clear she's more interested in hanging on for her own sake than serving the people of our country."

Ian Lavery MP, chair of the Labour Party, said: “This is absolute chaos and Theresa May has no authority left.

“The Prime Minister is in office but not in power. She cannot deliver Brexit and our country is at a complete standstill, while the Tories indulge in their leadership tussling.

“We can’t go on like this. Britain needs a functioning Government.”

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: Daily Mirror)

Labour MP Mary Creagh tweeted: "David Davis doesn't even give May the courtesy of resigning during the day. Leadership contest imminent.

"Johnson & Grayling only 2 Leavers who have not backed May publicly this w/end. Tick tock."

The PM faces a showdown with 300 Tory MPs on Monday after Boris Johnson said her Brexit plan was “a t**d”.

The PM must convince backbenchers to support her at the 1922 Committee – or face being booted out of Downing Street.

Brexiteer minister Michael Gove urged fellow Tory Eurosceptics to “get behind the Prime Minister” over the Chequers deal.

(Image: i-Images Picture Agency)

Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson backed the plan, despite saying that it was “like polishing a t**d”.

But there was open warfare last night with dozens of Tory MPs plotting to oust Mrs May. A letter is circulating which accuses her of “capitulating” over the Brexit talks.

And the resignation of Mr Davis will only pile the pressure on the PM on Monday.

A briefing by QC Martin Howe said Mrs May's Brexit plan would lead to a “worst-of-all worlds ‘Black Hole’ Brexit where the UK is stuck permanently as a vassal state”.

It takes just 48 MPs’ votes to trigger a vote of no-confidence in Mrs May.

Former Labour minister Lord Mandelson said on BBC’s The Sunday Politics: “The Government has, simply, got itself up sh** creek. Without a paddle.”

However, Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns, who quit a junior government role earlier this year to "fight for Brexit" and has threatened to vote against Theresa May's plans for exiting the European Union, tweeted her approval of Mr Davis' resignation.

"Fantastic news. Well done David Davis for having the principal and guts to resign. I take my hat off to you. We need to make sure this is now a game changer for £Brexit.

David Davis's resignation letter to Theresa May

Dear Prime Minister

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.

The Cabinet decision on Friday crystallised this problem.

In my view the inevitable consequence of the proposed policies will be to make the supposed control by Parliament illusory rather than real.

As I said at Cabinet, the "common rule book" policy hands control of large swathes of our economy to the EU and is certainly not returning control of our laws in any real sense.

I am also unpersuaded that our negotiating approach will not just lead to further demands for concessions.

Of course this is a complex area of judgement and it is possible that you are right and I am wrong.

However, even in that event it seems to me that the national interest requires a Secretary of State in my Department that is an enthusiastic believer in your approach, and not merely a reluctant conscript.

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.

Yours ever, David Davis

Theresa May's Chequers Brexit plan explained The UK's current Brexit plan is based on a deal Theresa May drew up at Chequers, her country retreat, in July 2018. At the time it was seen as a major shift to soft Brexit - prompting hard-Leaver Cabinet ministers David Davis and Boris Johnson to resign. The 'Facilitated Customs Arrangement' is a bid to solve the biggest problem of Brexit - how to stop a hard border between Northern Ireland and either the EU, or the rest of the UK. It would keep the UK closely aligned with the EU in a new "free trade area" for goods. Under this plan, the UK would share a "common rulebook" with Brussels for goods, including agricultural and food products. Britain would also collect some, but not all, customs tariffs on the EU's behalf. Parliament would technically keep the right to block future rules. But Tory Brexiteers said this olive branch would useless in practice. They forced Theresa May to amend the plan to say the EU should collects tariffs on the UK's behalf. Mrs May insisted this didn't scupper her plan. But EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier disagreed, and has continued to suggest there will be a border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Remainers and Labour have also opposed the Chequers plan, saying it leaves Britain half-in-half-out of the EU in the "worst of all worlds". With a November deadline to agree a deal with the EU looming, and the plan facing a vote in Parliament after that, the UK is now ramping up plans to leave in March 2019 with no deal.

Careless May loses so many ministers since snap election

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Prime Minister Theresa May has faced a series of Cabinet members leaving their positions since the snap election last June.

The first to leave was defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon, who resigned his post after being caught up in Westminster sleaze allegations.

He said his behaviour had "fallen below the high standards required" after he admitted putting his hand on the knee of radio presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer some years ago when he resigned on November 1.

One week later, Priti Patel quit as international development secretary over undisclosed and unauthorised meetings in Israel, including with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock) (Image: Getty)

In her resignation letter, she echoed the words of Sir Michael, saying her actions "fell below the high standards" expected.

The following month, Ms May's deputy Damian Green left the Cabinet after a probe found he made "inaccurate and misleading" statements about pornography on his computer.

Justine Greening was sacked in the PM's reshuffle in January after refusing to move from her education post to the Department for Work and Pensions.

(Image: PA)

(Image: PA)

Home secretary Amber Rudd resigned in April after admitting she had "inadvertently" misled MPs over the existence of targets for removing illegal immigrants over the Windrush scandal.

Brexit secretary David Davis became the latest senior figure to leave when he quit the Government following crunch talks at Chequers