Dominic Raab replaces David Davis as Brexit Secretary after leading Eurosceptic resigns from Theresa May's cabinet

In less than nine months before Britain is expected to leave the EU, the PM was forced to appoint the current housing minister to the critical role

Dominic Raab has replaced David Davis as the Brexit secretary after the cabinet minister dramatically resigned from his government post, Downing Street has announced.

In less than nine months before Britain is expected to leave the European Union, Theresa May was forced to appoint the current housing minister to the critical role in the UK's Brexit negotiations.

The appointment of the Brexit-backing MP – a prominent figure in the 2016 referendum – was immediately welcomed by his cabinet colleague Penny Mordaunt, who said Mr Raab was “highly capable, across the issues, attention to detail, Leave supporter and pragmatist”.

Mr Davis’ resignation is a major blow to the prime minister's already fragile government and has led to speculation that she could face a leadership challenge, if enough of backbench MPs submit letters of no confidence.

Despite an apparent cabinet agreement on Friday at Ms May’s Chequers residence on plans for post-Brexit relations with the EU, Mr Davis said he was “very clear” he did not back government policy and told Ms May he would be the “odd man out” on it.

Steve Baker, a junior minister in the Department for Exiting the European (DexEU), also resigned from his post on Sunday, claiming he could not support government policy “with the sincerity and resolve which will be necessary”.

The chairman of the 1922 committee of Conservative backbenchers, Sir Graham Brady, declined to comment on whether he had received any letters from MPs calling for a no confidence vote.

Sir Graham said: “My view ever since I became chairman of the '22 is that it would be entirely improper ever to comment in any way on that subject, because inevitably a commentary could influence the course of events.”

No comment will be made by the '22 unless and until the 48 letters required to trigger a vote are received, he said.

Mr Davis' exit is the latest in a string of frontbench resignations in the last year, including ex-defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon, former international development secretary Priti Patel, and Amber Rudd, the old home secretary.

He took his Eurosceptic colleague Steve Baker with him when leaving DexEU, which means Ms May has two ministerial positions to fill - Mr Baker at DexEU and a new housing minister.

Mr Raab, a former lawyer advising on EU and trade law and an ex-chief of staff to Mr Davis, was among the "talented new generation" mentioned by Downing Street on Friday, as a threat to cabinet ministers who were considering quitting.

He held a junior position at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) from 2015 until 2016, when he lost his government role when Ms May entered Number 10.

However he returned to the MoJ last year for a short spell, before being appointed as a housing minister in January.

This will be his first Cabinet role, and makes him the first of a younger generation of Tory ministers to join the prime minister's top team.

Mr Raab has been touted by some colleagues as a potential leadership contender but he has also been at the centre of various controversies.

He was slapped down by Ms May herself when she was women's minister in 2011, for referring to feminists as "obnoxious bigots" in a row over workplace discrimination.

Mr Raab also attracted widespread mockery when a parliamentary aide - who was reportedly working as an escort - also revealed that he ate the same lunch every day, which his staff referred to as a "Dominic Raab special".