Look who’s back! EU nightmare as Lord Frost given top new Brexit role after trade victory
Brexit: Boris Johnson praises work of negotiator David Frost
The peer was due to become Boris Johnson’s National Security Adviser after successfully securing the divorce and future relationship deals with the bloc. It is understood that a formal announcement of the restructuring will be announced later today. Sir Stephen Lovegrove, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence, is expected to become the country’s news National Security Adviser.
Lord Frost will oversee Britain’s future relationship with the European Union as part of the restructure.
The new position is considered immensely important moving forward, especially after the bloc threatened to blockade coronavirus vaccines being exported to Britain.
Commenting on the appointments, Prime Minister Mr Johnson said: “I am hugely grateful to Lord Frost for his herculean efforts in securing a deal with the EU, and I am thrilled that he has agreed to be my representative for Brexit and International Policy as we seize the opportunities from our departure from the EU.
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“I am also delighted to appoint Sir Stephen Lovegrove as my National Security Adviser. Stephen brings with him a wealth of experience from across Whitehall and in National Security and I look forward to working closely together to deliver this Government’s vision for the UK in the world.”
And Lord Frost added: “I am delighted to take up this new role as the Prime Minister’s Representative on Brexit and International Policy.
“With a new agreement with the EU in place, we have huge opportunities to boost our wealth and define what we stand for as a country internationally, and I very much look forward to supporting the Prime Minister on this.”
His new role will be in helping the Prime Minister craft Britain’s free-trading future outside of the EU.
Lord Frost will start work next week and work closely with Sir Stephen to “maximise the opportunities of Brexit” and the “Integrated Review” on Britain’s foreign and defence policies.
Sir Stephen said: “It has been an immense privilege to serve as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence for the past five years. Working with the whole force – our armed forces, both regular and reserve, civil servants, our suppliers and everyone that makes up the Defence community – has been an honour.
“I am delighted now to be taking up the role of the National Security Adviser. On this broader canvas I aim to deliver the Prime Minister’s vision for an enhanced and more engaged role for the UK in the world, leading the national security community to embrace the opportunities now available to us, while ensuring we are well prepared to deal with the challenges we face.”
Lord Frost was originally appointed as the Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser but didn’t take up the role as he was engaged in trade wrangling with Brussels.
The appointment drew criticism, including from former PM Theresa May, because he was due to continue as a special adviser rather than a civil servant.
Mrs May complained that Lord Frost had no previous experience in tackling security-related challenges.
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