British Prime Minister Theresa May has appointed the United Kingdom’s current housing minister, Dominic Raab, as the new Brexit secretary after David Davis resigned from government.

Raab, 44, was a prominent Leave campaigner during the 2016 referendum on membership of the European Union. In his new role, Raab will take over day-to-day negotiations with the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier. He worked as a lawyer before becoming an MP in 2010.

Rabb’s appointment came after Davis quit his job and said May had “given away too much too easily” in negotiations with the EU.

May said she did not agree with his assessment but thanked him for his work.

The resignation is a blow for May,who wants the support of Eurosceptic MPs for her proposed Brexit vision, which would form the basis of the UK’s position in ongoing talks with the EU.

Davis resigned in protest against May’s “soft Brexit” strategy, which was agreed at May’s country residence, Chequers, last week. Davis said the proposed policies did not give the UK sufficient independence from the EU and will “make the supposed control by Parliament illusory rather than real”.

Davis insisted his resignation was not aimed at undermining or challenging the prime minister.

The UK is due to leave the European Union on March 29, but the two sides have not yet agreed how they will work together following the split.