David Davis’ Brexit Secretary replacement announced TODAY – who will it be?
THERESA May will announce a new Brexit Secretary to replace David Davis this morning.
After the ex-SAS Brexiteer dramatically quit late last night, her Government has been thrown into chaos.
He threw in the towel, telling her that her strategy wasn't working and that she was putting the UK "in a weak negotiating position" with Brussels.
In a sensational letter to the Prime Minister, he said he couldn't simply support her plans anymore.
It is thought that another Brexiteer and Leave campaigner will have to replace him to unite the party and stop Mrs May's party and Government from totally collapsing.
Who are the runners and riders who could replace the man who was orchestrating our EU exit?
Latest updates on Theresa May's political crisis:
- Other Brexiteer ministers including Boris Johnson are under pressure to quit, potentially bringing down the PM
- Pro-Leave MPs vowed to bring a formal challenge against Theresa May
- Downing Street is expected to name a new Brexit Secretary this morning, with Michael Gove and Chris Grayling seen as favourites
- Labour called on the PM to resign due to the swirling chaos
Michael Gove
The Environment Secretary said yesterday he wasn't happy with all of Mrs May's Brexit plan, which was agreed last Friday after a marathon summit at Chequers.
But the former Vote Leave campaigner is still on board and backing the Prime Minister in public at least.
The top Brexiteer said he would back the customs proposal even though it keeps Britain closely tied to the EU.
Defending the plan, Mr Gove said: "We'll be outside freedom of movement, which was a critical part of the promise we made during the course of the referendum campaign."
He insisted that in future, Britain will be able to reject European rules by voting them down in Parliament.
Mrs May will want to have someone who really believes in Brexit to take Mr Davis' plans forward - and Mr Gove could be the one to do that.
But will she be able to trust someone who stabbed his mate Boris Johnson in the back - only to run for the leadership himself?
Liam Fox
The Trade Secretary hasn't really had a key role in the run up to Brexit because we can't sign up to do trade deals until after we actually quit.
But Mrs May could bump him up to play centre stage now.
He's a firm Leaver, and would represent the 17.5million people who voted to quit the bloc last year.
And he's got behind the Prime Minister, writing an article together with Sajid Javid to show unity over the weekend.
Boris Johnson
Could the Prime Minister take the plunge and put this key Brexiteer in the huge role of Brexit Secretary?
It's not even clear whether Boris will stay on in his current job as Foreign Secretary - Tory MPs are already rallying around him to join Mr Davis and quit too.
He's already intervened on Brexit multiple times - but this has irritated the Prime Minister and her team rather than instil confidence in him.
And he's also not exactly on board with the PM's plan either; he described the policy as a "turd" at last week's Chequers summit.
Chris Grayling
Another minister loyal to the Prime Minister is Mr Grayling, who has already had a number of roles in Government already.
He's under pressure to quit in his current role as Transport Secretary because of the absolute chaos after new train timetables were introduced last month.
Mr Grayling came out to praise the Chequers Brexit blueprint over the weekend, with a joint article with Philip Hammond in the Telegraph - showing Mrs May can rely on him to stay loyal.
'THIS IS NO SELL-OUT' Theresa May insists she has chosen the 'right Brexit for Britain' despite government in chaos
THERESA May will today argue her plan is the "right Brexit for Britain" as she faces a leadership crisis.
The under-fire PM has been slammed over the "soft Brexit"proposal agreed by her Cabinet at Chequers on Friday.
Eurosceptics have accused her of letting down the 17.4million voters who backed Leave.
Last night Brexit Secretary David Davis quit the government in protest at the PM's plans for a soft Brexit.
Mr Davis announced his resignation just minutes before midnight with a devastating letter warning Mrs May her proposal would leave the UK in "a weak negotiating position" with Brussels.
May will urge the Conservative Party to "stand united" and she faces MPs in the Commons this afternoon before a crunch meeting with backbenchers tonight.
She must talk them round or face plans to oust her as leader.
Eurosceptics claim MPs have started sending no-confidence letters which will spark a leadership content if 48 are received.
Backbench Tories have urged pro-Brexit ministers to quit in protest at the new Brexit blueprint.
David Lidington
Mrs May has a close ally in her Deputy Prime Minister, David Lidington.
He's a former Europe minister and has the relevant experience to take on the huge role of Brexit Secretary.
But he's also a Remainer, and will be seen as wanting to negotiate a soft exit from the EU which could keep us closer to the EU than many leavers want.
Andrea Leadsom
Another key Brexiteer who could take the reigns is Ms Leadsom - who is currently Leader of the House of Commons.
But she wanted to take a much firmer stance last week on Mrs May's Brexit plan, which could rule her out.
And let's not forget - she originally got close to the top job in No10 herself by running against Mrs May for the Tory leadership after the referendum too.
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Other options for Mrs May could include Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, who has shown he's ambitious to succeed but doesn't have much ministerial experience.
And Sajid Javid has also been tipped as another rising star, but he's just been moved into the Home Office after the departure of Amber Rudd and Mrs May might not want to move him again so soon.
Mrs May will announce Mr Davis' successor this morning.
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