The former Brexit Secretary took aim at naysayers whose only concern is avoiding any possible risks
DAVID Davis tonight blasted Brexit naysayers for missing out on the opportunities of leaving the EU - because they're terrified of the risks.
The former Brexit Secretary used his first Commons speech since quitting the Cabinet to hit out at the Government's white paper which was thrashed out at Chequers.
But he avoided criticising Theresa May directly - avoiding the opportunity of leaving the PM fatally wounded by calling for her to resign.
Mr Davis made his intervention as Parliament debated the crucial customs bill which will allow us to continue to monitor the flow of goods after Brexit.
He urged Eurosceptic colleagues not to vote down the bill just because they're unhappy with Mrs May's Chequers compromise.
The ex-minister said: "In the newspapers at the weekend I read that some people were so cross with the white paper that they threatened to vote against this.
"Well, I don't think they can be more cross than me with the white paper - but I do urge them not to vote against it."
But he did take aim at ministers for pledging to keep Britain closely tied to the EU after Brexit - all because they're terrified of a hard border in Ireland.
Mr Davis said: "There's no way however that a UK Government is ever going to install a hard border in Northern Ireland.
"There may be 300 border crossings, but there are only six ports. So rest of world imports can actually be surveilled and controlled very straightforwardly.
"So the issue which has got much more difficult since becoming politicised, it was actually working quite well in negotiations before it became politicised is eminently soluble, soluble by technical means, soluble by co-operation between the two states."
He concluded: "What this proposal would do is try and deal with a problem which is less bad than they think, and in doing so throw away a power, throw away a right that is incredibly important - much, much more important than they think.
"They are trying to defend a false past - and giving up a real future."
Mr Davis insisted it will be much easier for Britain to strike global trade deals around the world once we're out of the EU, because officials in Brussels are "slow and not very effective" at cutting agreements with other countries.
And he urged the Government to take advantage of our assets such as the English language and our strong reputation in law, science and technology to turbo-charge Britain's economy through trade.
But despite his tough stance, Mr Davis took care not to target the PM and was adamant he wasn't making a "resignation statement".
That meant Mrs May avoided a "Geoffrey Howe moment" similar to the blow Margaret Thatcher received when her deputy quit in 1990 and went on to attack his former boss in a devastating Commons speech.
Boris Johnson, who quit the Cabinet 15 hours after Mr Davis, still hasn't made any public appearances since he stepped down.
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