Brexit crisis: UK PM May soldiers on, appoints new ministers

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday soldiered on by appointing replacements for the ministerial posts vacated by some of her rebelling MPs over their Brexit concerns regarding a controversial European Union (EU) withdrawal agreement.

May promoted Steve Barclay from minister of state in the Department of Health to take charge as the new Brexit secretary after his predecessor, Dominic Raab, stepped down in protest over "fatal flaws" in the divorce deal the premier had struck with the European Union (EU).

In a clear attempt to surround herself with more allies, May also brought back into the Cabinet Amber Rudd, the former home secretary who had resigned amid the Windrush immigration scandal earlier this year but was later found to have been let down by Home Office officials.

Rudd, who has already given her backing to the controversial EU withdrawal agreement as "not perfect but perfect was never on offer", takes charge as work and pension secretary to replace Esther McVey, who resigned in protest on Thursday.

Reports of other major Cabinet resignations were eventually put to rest, as environment secretary Michael Gove rejected the offer of stepping in as the new Secretary of State for Exiting the EU but said he had no intention to resign.

Asked if he had confidence in Premier May, Gove said, "I absolutely do."