7 David Davis tweets that suggest he was never really the man for the job

David Davis has quit as Secretary of State for Exiting the EU and people are divided over whether it was a principled stand or a cowardly retreat. These old David Davis tweets, however, suggest that he never actually understood how the EU works.

He was pretty confident that the UK could work out all its trade deals before leaving the EU – something forbidden under EU rules – as he showed in this string of tweets.

The first calling point of the UK's negotiator immediately after #Brexit will not be Brussels, it will be Berlin, to strike a deal

— David Davis (@DavidDavisMP) May 26, 2016

(1/3) Post #Brexit a UK-German deal would include free access for their cars and industrial goods, in exchange for a deal on everything else

— David Davis (@DavidDavisMP) May 26, 2016

(2/3) Similar deals would be reached with other key EU nations

— David Davis (@DavidDavisMP) May 26, 2016

(3/3) France would want to protect £3bn of food and wine exports. Italy, its £1bn fashion exports. Poland its £3bn manufacturing exports

— David Davis (@DavidDavisMP) May 26, 2016

It didnt go down well when people realised the Brexit Secretary was woefully ignorant of crucial rules.

Still waiting for you to explain this. Germany cant negotiate deals alone: true or false? Are you a liar or an idiot?

— päddŷ (@padster) September 15, 2016

Youre the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU and you dont even know the basics of how the EU works? God help us. #Remain

— Sarah #FBPE (@philtherapy) September 18, 2016

He was also unclear on the rule that EU countries arent allowed to negotiate independently with non-EU countries.

(1/3) Trade negotiations are exercises in mutual self-interest. They are not power plays, or coercions

— David Davis (@DavidDavisMP) May 26, 2016

(2/3) There is no reason whatsoever to expect that most countries in the world would not actively want a free trade agreement with the UK

— David Davis (@DavidDavisMP) May 26, 2016

(3/3) The truth is existing trade deals with non-EU countries would stay in place until either side wanted to renegotiate

— David Davis (@DavidDavisMP) May 26, 2016

His credibility was low to non-existent.

How on earth does the *Brexit* secretary not realise that EU nations cannot negotiate trade independently of the EU

— Mitch Edgeworth (@mitchedgeworth) July 9, 2018

Im sure we should be very sceptical about the accuracy of a sentence from David Davis starting with the words, “The truth is”.

— Kevin Turvey #finalsay (@KevinTurveyRIP) January 16, 2018

Luckily, Theresa May has appointed a Brexit Secretary not driven by naive optimism.

Important speech by the PM, putting meat on the bones of the win/win deal we want with our European friends, respecting the referendum, and looking with ambition to Britains global future. #RoadtoBrexit https://t.co/SXntQxNBh2

— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) March 2, 2018

H/T Indy100