*LONDON: Britain’s Brexit minister David Davis and one of his deputiesresigned on Sunday in a major blow for Prime Minister Theresa May as shetries to unite her party behind a plan to retain strong economic ties tothe European Union even after leaving the bloc.*

“The general direction of policy will leave us in at best a weaknegotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one,” Davis said in aletter to May.

British media reported that junior Brexit minister Steve Baker had alsostepped down.

The resignations come two days after the cabinet approved the plan in a bidto unblock negotiations with Brussels at a meeting at the prime minister’scountry retreat at Chequers outside London.

Davis said the plan would “make the supposed control by Parliament illusoryrather than real”.

He was particularly critical of the proposal for a “common rulebook” toallow free trade in goods, saying this “hands control of large swathes ofour economy to the EU and is certainly not returning control of our laws inany real sense”.

“I am also unpersuaded that our negotiating approach will not just lead tofurther demands for concessions,” he said, concluding that his postrequired “an enthusiastic believer in your approach, and not merely areluctant conscript”.

May replied in a letter saying that her Brexit plan “will undoubtedly meanthe returning of powers from Brussels to the United Kingdom” and was inline with her commitment to leaving the European single market and customsunion.

“I would like to thank you warmly for everything you have done over thepast two years as Secretary of State to shape our departure from the EU,”she said.*‘Brexit in name only’*

A long-time eurosceptic, Davis was appointed two years ago to head up thenewly-created Department for Exiting the European Union after Britain votedto leave the European Union in a shock referendum.

He became the public face of Brexit, leading the British delegation intalks with Brussels, although his role had been increasingly overshadowedin recent months as May and her aides took a bigger role in the negotiatingstrategy.

The 69-year-old had reportedly threatened to quit several times over aperceived lack of firmness in Britain’s negotiating stance but had remainedstrictly loyal to the prime minister in public.

May is due to address parliament later on Monday to explain her plan forBritain to adopt EU rules on goods after Brexit, amid anger from MPs in herown party who want a cleaner break and businesses who say it may stillcause economic harm.

Conservative MP Peter Bone said Davis had “done the right thing”, adding:“The PM’s proposals for a Brexit in name only are not acceptable.”

Jacob Rees-Mogg, a leading Brexit hardliner, told Sky News: “This is veryimportant. It raises the most serious questions about the PM’s ideas. Ifthe Brexit Secretary cannot support them they cannot be very goodproposals.”

Ian Lavery, chairman of the main opposition Labour Party, said: “This isabsolute chaos and Theresa May has no authority left.

May’s plan would create a free trade area with the EU for goods, to protectsupply chains in areas such as manufacturing, while maintaining flexibilityfor Britain’s dominant service sector.

It is unclear whether Brussels will accept this, after repeatedly warningBritain it cannot “cherry-pick” bits of its single market.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, a leading Brexit supporter, was widelyreported to have described the plan as a “turd” before agreeing to supportit.*Special forces training*

Davis, a sharp operator and a gut-instinct politician, was a “Leave”campaigner in the referendum on Britain’s EU membership.

He was well acquainted with the Brussels beat: he was Europe ministerbetween 1994 and 1997 as the European issue tore apart then Conservativeprime minister John Major’s government.

Born to a single mother and brought up on a public housing estate inLondon, Davis pursued a career at sugar giant Tate and Lyle.

He also served as a reservist in the Special Air Service, the Britisharmy’s elite special force unit, before entering politics.

Noted for his love of climbing and flying, his ascent in politics began in1987 when he was elected to parliament, representing a seat in northernEngland.

Davis was the front-runner in the 2005 Conservative Party leadershipcontest, but lost out to David Cameron, shedding momentum after a partyconference speech fell flat.

When the Conservatives returned to power in 2010, he never got a governmentpost and spent his time on the backbenches campaigning on civil libertiesissues.

After Cameron resigned following defeat in the Brexit referendum, Davis wasappointed back in government by May, Cameron’s replacement. – APP/AFP