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UK's European commissioner quits in wake of Brexit UK's European commissioner quits in wake of Brexit
(about 2 hours later)
The UK’s European commissioner, Jonathan Hill, is resigning, following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union. The UK’s most senior diplomat in Brussels, Jonathan Hill, is resigning following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, as “what is done cannot be undone”.
Lord Hill, the UK’s most senior diplomat in Brussels, was sent to Brussels by David Cameron and took the highly prized portfolio of financial services. But his departure after Brexit was a foregone conclusion, as many European politicians oppose a Briton presiding over EU financial stability when the UK is on the way out. Several MEPs have already called on Hill to go. Lord Hill, the UK’s European commissioner, was sent to Brussels by David Cameron and took the highly prized portfolio of financial services. But his departure from a big EU finance job became a foregone conclusion after Brexit, because many European politicians opposed having a Briton in charge of financial services, when the UK is on its way out.
Several MEPs had already called on Hill to be stripped of his crucial economic portfolio.
Hill, said he did not think it was right he carried on as British commissioner as if nothing had happened.Hill, said he did not think it was right he carried on as British commissioner as if nothing had happened.
He said: “I came to Brussels as someone who had campaigned against Britain joining the euro and who was sceptical about Europe. I will leave it certain that, despite its frustrations, our membership was good for our place in the world and good for our economy. But what is done cannot be undone and now we have to get on with making our new relationship with Europe work as well as possible.” The Conservative peer, who once campaigned to keep Britain from joining the euro, said he had arrived in Brussels as someone who was sceptical about Europe, but will leave “certain that, despite its frustrations, our membership was good for our place in the world and good for our economy. But what is done cannot be undone and now we have to get on with making our new relationship with Europe work as well as possible.”
Here is his statement in full: A former adviser to John Major and Ken Clarke, Hill joined the commission in 2014. He was given the portfolio of financial markets in a peace-making gesture from the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, towards the British government.
“Like many people here and in the UK, I am obviously very disappointed about the result of the referendum. I wanted it to end differently and had hoped that Britain would want to play a role in arguing for an outward-looking, flexible, competitive, free trade Europe. But the British people took a different decision, and that is the way that democracy works. Juncker’s decision to award the crucial finance portfolio to a Briton was intended to pour oil on troubled waters, after David Cameron tried to block Juncker’s appointment.
“As we move to a new phase, I don’t believe it is right that I should carry on as the British commissioner as though nothing had happened. In line with what I discussed with the president of the commission some weeks ago, I have therefore told him that I shall stand down. At the same time, there needs to be an orderly handover, so I have said that I will work with him to make sure that happens in the weeks ahead. In a respectful statement of thanks, Juncker said he had tried to persuade Hill to stay on as a commissioner, describing the Conservative peer as “a true European and not just the British commissioner”.
“I am very grateful to Jean-Claude Juncker for giving me the chance to work on financial services and for the opportunity to help support jobs and growth in Europe. I was also glad to have worked with other commissioners in trying to take forward our programme of reform, and to have had the chance to work with excellent officials at DG FISMA and in my own team. The commission president had wanted a Briton in charge of financial services “as a sign of my confidence in the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union. To my great regret, this situation is now changing.”
“I came to Brussels as someone who had campaigned against Britain joining the euro and who was sceptical about Europe. I will leave it certain that, despite its frustrations, our membership was good for our place in the world and good for our economy. But what is done cannot be undone and now we have to get on with making our new relationship with Europe work as well as possible.” Hill’s last day will be on 15 July. In a move heavy with symbolism, he will pass over the financial services portfolio to Valdis Dombrovskis, the commission vice-president, in charge of the euro.
Each EU member state has a commissioner in Brussels, although their job is to represent common European interests, not national ones. Despite that mission, successive British governments have lobbied to get a big financial dossier for the British commissioner, in a bid to safeguard the interests of the City of London.
The European commission is the EU civil service, but is led by political appointees, such as Hill, who are responsible for initiating and enforcing EU laws. Contrary to popular myth, European commissioners do not make EU laws. National governments and elected MEPs agree EU laws that have been drafted by the commission.
Hill’s sudden departure leaves the UK’s position in the commission hierarchy unclear, adding to the many unanswered questions about Brexit.
The UK retains the rights and duties of membership until it formally leaves the union and is obliged to sent a new commissioner to Brussels. The commission said it was ready “to discuss swiftly” with Cameron a replacement for Hill, as well as a potential portfolio.
Sources said the new British commissioner could expect a much less important job. Prior to going to Brussels, Hill served from the House of Lords as an education minister in the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.
In the weeks leading up to the referendum, Hill told the Guardian that a vote to remain could be an opportunity to reset Britain’s relationship with the rest of Europe, adding that he saw “a lot of opportunity for the UK to help shape the future direction that Europe takes”.
His departure underscores how the British relationship with the EU will now be reset in a radically different way than that he had hoped for.