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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed the foreign minister to lead talks with Europe Sunday after the resignation of the Brexit minister sent shockwaves through the already troubled London administration.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will take on the EU negotiating brief — including the knotty issue of Northern Ireland’s relationship with Brussels — with immediate effect, Downing Street said in a statement.
The forced shuffle came a day after David Frost, a trusted ally of the prime minister and former Brexit negotiator, brought forward his resignation in a letter to the prime minister late Saturday.
He acted after The Mail on Sunday newspaper reported that he had handed in his resignation a week ago, but had agreed to wait until January before leaving his post.
In his resignation letter, Frost told Johnson he had “concerns about the current direction of travel” regarding coronavirus regulations and tax rises.
“The Foreign Secretary is to become lead negotiator with the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol, following the departure of Lord Frost,” Johnson’s office said in a statement.
“Liz Truss will take over Ministerial responsibility for the UK’s relationship with the European Union with immediate effect.”
Johnson is already reeling from a rebellion by 100 of his MPs in a parliamentary vote over coronavirus measures and the stunning loss of a 23,000-majority seat in a by-election.
That was partly blamed on a slew of reports that his staff and aides had held parties last Christmas despite virus restrictions in place at the time.
‘Running out of time’
The by-election loss for Johnson’s Conservatives intensified speculation of a leadership challenge.
Frost recently came second in a poll of most popular ministers held by ConservativeHome, an influential blog read by the grassroot Tories who could end up deciding Johnson’s…
Source : france24
