EU says UK Brexit minister's resignation not a problem

The resignation of Britain's Brexit minister David Davis is not a problem for the EU, a spokesman for the bloc said today, insisting Brussels was ready to negotiate a deal "24/7".

Davis dramatically quit yesterday over a plan for Britain to keep strong economic ties with the EU even after leaving in March next year, telling Prime Minister Theresa May she was giving "too much away too easily" in negotiations.

With May's government plunged into crisis, European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas was asked at a regular briefing if the sudden departure of London's lead negotiator was a problem.

"Not for us. We're here to work," Schinas said, underlining the EU's much-repeated mantra that time is running out for talks and the commission -- the EU's executive arm which is handling talks for the 27 other member countries -- is "available 24/7" to try to thrash out a deal.

Schinas said that the EU "will continue to negotiate in goodwill, bona fide, with Prime Minister May and the UK negotiators in order to reach a deal."
But the chief Brexit coordinator for the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt, said he had "enjoyed the cooperation with David Davis."