David Davis 'will retire and leave Brexit transition to Boris Johnson'

David Davis plans to retire in 2019 and leave Boris Johnson to steer the UK through the transitional period, The Telegraph can reveal.

The Brexit secretary told friends that Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, "needs this to work more than I do" because he plans to step aside in June 2019 whereas Mr Barnier will still be in post. 

Mr Davis believes Brexit will be his "last big job", friends told this newspaper.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson told Conservative activists that Brussels believes Britain will "bottle it" over Brexit.

The Foreign Secretary told a fringe meeting at the party conference that some EU leaders believe Britain will lose its nerve during the Brexit negotiations and try to cancel Article 50.

Another minister has said there are senior figures in the EU who think Britain is reluctant to leave.

It comes amid growing discontent within the party at Theresa May's leadership on Brexit ahead of a key conference speech on Wednesday in which she will attempt to pull warring factions together. 

Mr Davis told friends he plans to "retire" in 2019 when the UK leaves the union, sparking fears the move will trigger a reshuffle and a potential leadership challenge.

Asked why he does not plan to stay on during the transitional period Mr Davis said "someone else... Boris Johnson" can deal with the two year period after the UK leaves.

A source close to the Brexit secretary said Mr Davis believes his job will be complete in June 2019 having delivered the UK's exit from the union. After this point his department will take a back seat and he will stand aside. 

They added: "This was a lighthearted remark underlining the fact that we will be leaving the EU in March 2019."

But allies of Mr Davis have called on him to act as interim leader if Mrs May is forced out after Britain leaves to act as a steady pair of hands while a new leadership candidate is found. 

The Brexit secretary told friends Mr Johnson should deal with the transitional period, which could also open the way for the foreign secretary to make his own pitch to be Prime Minister. 

He also claimed Mr Johnson is now "back inside the tent" and has been "tied to the tent pole" to stop him from making trouble for Mrs May.

It came after he wrote a 4,000 word article setting out his red lines on Brexit, angering allies of Theresa May who saw the piece as a direct challenge to her leadership. 

One ally told this paper Mr Davis sees Brexit as "his legacy" and "the one thing he will be remembered for". He wants the deal to be good for the UK and for it to be an easy transition, they added. 

But ministers have cast doubt over how well talks are progressing amid fears Britain has not flexed its muscles enough during negotiations.

Some have suggested Mr Davis needs to make it clearer that the UK is prepared to walk away without a deal in order to focus minds.

Mr Davis told friends: "He [Barnier] needs this to work much more than I do... I'm retiring after this, he's not!"

Asked whether that would be in June 2019 he said "yes", before claiming that "someone else" can deal with the transition period, adding: "Boris can do that!"

"Boris is back inside the tent now, he's been tied to the tent pole," he added.

It follows reports last week that Mr Davis believes Mrs May's leadership is so unstable that she may be forced to step down before the UK leaves in 2019. 

According to claims in the i newspaper the Brexit secretary has instructed his allies to remain loyal to the Prime Minister but friends said his name would be put forward as her replacement if the opportunity arose. 

One said: “There is absolutely no doubt that David would go for it. He wants the job."