London July 9 (IANS) Britain s Brexit Secretary David Davis has resigned as a government minister delivering a major blow to Prime Minister Theresa May the media reported.

May has accepted Davis resignation according to a statement from her office Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.

"The general direction of policy will leave us in at best a weak negotiating position and possibly an inescapable one " Davis said in his resignation letter which was published by May s office.

The surprising move came days after May secured her cabinet s support for her Brexit plan despite claims from the Brexiteer camp that it was "too soft."

Davis who was appointed Brexit secretary in 2016 was responsible for negotiating Britain s withdrawal from the European Union.

One leading newspaper the Daily Telegraph said on Monday his shock decision has plunged May s minority government into a crisis.

Speculation was growing in Westminster late Sunday and early Monday that a growing number of supporters of a harder Brexit who are unhappy with May s proposals are calling for a leadership challenge.

--IANS pgh/