• Boris Johnson and David Davis resignations (BBC News) – David Davis has resigned as Brexit Secretary and Boris Johnson has resigned as Foreign Secretary. Theresa May has stated that she did not agree with the two ex-ministers about “the best way to honour” the vote to leave the EU. The European Commission declined to comment on Mr Davis’s exit but Donald Tusk has said that he hoped a change in faces might lead to a change in policy.
  • Dominic Raab named as new Brexit minister (Reuters) – following David Davis’s resignation in protest at the government’s plans for a close trading relationship with the EU, Dominic Raab (previously a minister for housing) has been appointed as the next Brexit minister.
  • EU expects progress following David Davis resignation (Bloomberg) – from Brussel’s perspective, David Davis’s resignation is seen as a chance to progress Brexit talks and a sign that the UK government is heading to a more acceptable Brexit position. EU officials have been negotiating primarily with Olly Robbins (Theresa May’s chief EU adviser) who has led the technical negotiations, shaping policy and consulting with the European capitals. EU officials do not believe his position will change under Dominic Raab.
  • The ‘EU Common rulebook‘ and David Davis’s decision to resign (BBC News) – David Davis has stated that he was unhappy with the government’s decision to maintain an ‘common rulebook’ with the EU following Brexit, and was one of the reasons he decided to resign. The government wants to maintain part of the rulebook on standards and regulations to allow “frictionless trade at the border” after Brexit and will allow “ongoing harmonisation of goods”. This suggests that the UK is not looking to follow the EEA model.