Status: 19.12.2021 9:37 p.m.
The British Foreign Secretary Truss takes over the duties of the resigned Brexit Minister Frost. His resignation is another setback for Prime Minister Johnson, who has come under pressure.
After the resignation of Brexit Minister David Frost, British Foreign Minister Liz Truss will take over his previous duties. A government spokesman announced that evening in London that Truss would be responsible for Britain’s relationship with the EU with immediate effect. In this role, as chief negotiator, she is now taking on the ongoing talks with Brussels about special Brexit rules for Northern Ireland. In the previous cabinet she was Minister of Economic Affairs and had negotiated trade agreements with non-EU countries.
Frost had announced his resignation in a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The reason he gave was that he disagreed with the current direction of the Conservative Party. The most recent corona decisions are said to have been the trigger. Tax hikes and Johnson’s climate policy should not correspond to the ideas of the ex-minister.
Another bad news for Premier Johnson
For Prime Minister Johnson, who has come under pressure, Frost’s resignation is another setback within a short period of time. First, it was revealed that a Christmas party was being held at his Downing Street headquarters during the lockdown last year. Then, after nearly 200 years, the Conservatives lost the North Shropshire House of Commons. In the lower house, 100 Tories MPs also refused to support their prime minister when further corona measures were introduced.
Johnson thanks Frost for “historic service”
Johnson regretted the resignation of his close confidante Frost. He stressed that Frost should be proud of his historic service to the government. The outgoing minister wrote in his resignation letter that Brexit is now secured. But: “The challenge for the government now is to seize the opportunities that it offers us.” He has concerns about the current path.
Frost reached the Brexit trade pact with EU negotiator Michel Barnier at the last minute last year. This enables largely duty-free trade between Great Britain and the EU even after Brexit. However, there are still many problems and points of contention. These include special rules for the British province of Northern Ireland, which still follows the rules of the EU internal market so that there are no hard borders with the EU member Ireland.
Miles away from solving the problems with the EU
In the halting discussions that Frost had had with EU Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic over the past few months, both sides had recently approached each other a little. But we are still miles away from solving all problems.