UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that Lord David Frost will become a full Cabinet member, giving the Brexit negotiator the responsibility of maximising the UK's post-Brexit "opportunities”.
In a declaration on Wednesday, 10 Downing Street declared that the peer's appointment as a minister of state will begin from March 1 onwards.
“The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Lord Frost CMG as a minister of state in the Cabinet Office", the Prime Ministers office said in a statement.
“Lord Frost will be a full member of Cabinet. His appointment will take effect from March 1 2021".
Johnson initially planned to make give Lord Frost the role of National Security Adviser but the idea was scrapped.
An official spokesman for the prime minister said that he would become his representative for Brexit and International Policy as well as the head of a new International Policy Unit on Downing Street.
“He will lead the UK’s institutional and strategic relationship with the EU and he will help drive through changes to maximise the opportunities that flow from the deal we reached with the EU", the PM's official spokesman said.
Lord Frost responded to the appointment saying he was "hugely honoured to have been appointed minister to take forward our relationship with the EU after Brexit".
I am hugely honoured to have been appointed Minister to take forward our relationship with the EU after Brexit.
— David Frost (@DavidGHFrost) February 17, 2021
In doing so I stand on the shoulders of giants & particularly those of @michaelgove who did an extraordinary job for this country in talks with EU over the past year.
He continued saying that he would be standing “on the shoulders of giants” ... “who did an extraordinary job for this country in talks” with Brussels.
Lord Frost is expected to head the UK-EU joint committee on the Withdrawal Agreement, replacing government minister Michael Gove.
Ex national security advisors and former Prime Minister Theresa May have questioned Frost’s security affairs competence, with May describing him as a political appointee.
