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Stephen Barclay named new Brexit Secretary | Stephen Barclay named new Brexit Secretary |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Stephen Barclay has been picked as the new Brexit secretary, as Theresa May seeks to fill her cabinet after several of her top team quit. | |
The MP for North East Cambridgeshire - who is a Leave supporter - had been a health minister since January. | |
He replaces Dominic Raab, who resigned on Thursday over Mrs May's withdrawal agreement for Brexit. | He replaces Dominic Raab, who resigned on Thursday over Mrs May's withdrawal agreement for Brexit. |
A No 10 spokesman indicated that Mr Barclay would focus on the domestic preparations rather than negotiations. | |
Mr Barclay's promotion comes after a tumultuous few days for Mrs May, after two senior ministers and several other junior ministers and aides quit following the publication of the proposed Brexit agreement. | |
And some Conservative Brexiteers who are unhappy with the deal have also been submitting letters of no-confidence in Mrs May. If 48 letters are sent, then a vote will be triggered and Mrs May could face a challenge to her leadership. | |
But shortly before Mr Barclay's appointment, two leading Brexiteers in the cabinet, Environment Secretary Michael Gove and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox publicly threw their support behind her. | |
New Brexit secretary 'delighted' | |
In a tweet, Mr Barclay said he was "looking forward" to getting to work. | |
Mr Barclay becomes the third Brexit Secretary since the role was created, after Mr Raab and David Davis - who resigned over Mrs May's Brexit plans in July. | |
He has been congratulated on Twitter by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss, who said he was "a star" when he worked in her department. | |
But Labour's shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: "Stephen Barclay's appointment changes absolutely nothing. | |
"After two years of negotiation, the prime minister has failed to deliver a Brexit deal that can command the support of Parliament. | "After two years of negotiation, the prime minister has failed to deliver a Brexit deal that can command the support of Parliament. |
"A new face in the Brexit department will do nothing to bring this divided government back together." | "A new face in the Brexit department will do nothing to bring this divided government back together." |
Environment Secretary Michael Gove - who the BBC understood had at one point been contemplating his position before rallying behind Mrs May - is understood to have turned down the role of Brexit secretary following Mr Raab's departure. | |
Who is Stephen Barclay? | |
Stephen Barclay - or Steve Barclay as he calls himself on Twitter - is a former banker and has also held the posts of City minister and a whip at the Treasury. | |
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said Mr Barclay was not a household name and it was a big promotion for him. | |
But he also described the 46-year-old as ultra-loyal, having never rebelled against the government. | |
Vicky Ford, a fellow Tory MP and a friend of Mr Barclay, told BBC Radio 4's PM programme he is known for listening "very, very hard and getting things done". | |
Mr Barclay, who is said to be a close friend of Theresa May's chief of staff Gavin Barwell, is married and has two children. | |
Read more | |
Meanwhile, Amber Rudd has been named the new work and pensions secretary - replacing Esther McVey, the second senior minister who resigned over the PM's Brexit plans on Thursday. | |
Ms Rudd said she was "delighted" to be given the role, and saw it as her job to "try to iron out" the issues with Universal Credit. | Ms Rudd said she was "delighted" to be given the role, and saw it as her job to "try to iron out" the issues with Universal Credit. |
In her first interview in her new job, Ms Rudd called on any colleagues planning to submit letters of no-confidence in Mrs May to "think again". | |
"This is not a time for changing our leader," she said. | |
"This is a time for pulling together, for making sure we remember who we are here to serve, who we are here to help: that's the whole of the country." | |
Stephen Hammond will take over from Mr Barclay at the department for health and social care. | Stephen Hammond will take over from Mr Barclay at the department for health and social care. |
The government also announced replacements for two junior ministers who resigned over Mrs May's deal. | The government also announced replacements for two junior ministers who resigned over Mrs May's deal. |
John Penrose will join the Northern Ireland office, replacing Shailesh Vara, and Kwasi Kwarteng will go to the Department for Exiting the EU, replacing Suella Braverman. | John Penrose will join the Northern Ireland office, replacing Shailesh Vara, and Kwasi Kwarteng will go to the Department for Exiting the EU, replacing Suella Braverman. |
Mrs May agreed a draft withdrawal agreement for Brexit with her cabinet on Wednesday, which had already been signed off by negotiators from both the UK and EU. | Mrs May agreed a draft withdrawal agreement for Brexit with her cabinet on Wednesday, which had already been signed off by negotiators from both the UK and EU. |
But the deal led to a backlash from some Brexit-supporting MPs, including Mr Raab and Ms McVey. | |
Around 20 Tory MPs have publicly called for a vote of no confidence in the prime minister, with more thought to have written to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee to call for a vote on her leadership. | Around 20 Tory MPs have publicly called for a vote of no confidence in the prime minister, with more thought to have written to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee to call for a vote on her leadership. |
But Mrs May responded to critics saying she will stay in No 10 and see the deal through. | But Mrs May responded to critics saying she will stay in No 10 and see the deal through. |