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Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg
Official portrait of Rt Hon David Davis MP crop 2.jpg
Longest serving
David Davis

13 July 2016 - 8 July 2018
Department for Exiting the European Union
Style Brexit Secretary
(informal)
The Right Honourable
(within the UK and the Commonwealth)
Member of Cabinet
Reports to Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Seat Westminster, London
Appointer The Monarch
on advice of the Prime Minister
Term length At Her Majesty's pleasure
Formation 13 July 2016
First holder David Davis
Final holder Steve Barclay
Abolished 31 January 2020


The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union or, informally, Brexit Secretary, was a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, responsible for the business of the Department for Exiting the European Union, as well as for the UK's withdrawal from the European Union (EU), informally referred to as "Brexit". The secretary of state oversaw Brexit negotiations following a 2016 referendum, in which a majority of those who voted were in favour of exiting the EU. The officeholder was a member of the Cabinet.

The position was created on 13 July 2016, at the outset of the premiership of Theresa May. The office was abolished on 31 January 2020, during the premiership of Boris Johnson, as the United Kingdom left the European Union. A new cabinet position of Minister of State for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency was later created.

The Minister of State for Exiting the European Union deputised for the secretary of state. The corresponding shadow minister was the Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. The secretary of state was also scrutinised by the Exiting the European Union Select Committee.

This page also includes the portfolios of the Chief Negotiator for Exiting the European Union and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union.

History

May reportedly ordered civil servants to find a building to house a new Department for Exiting the European Union, to be headed by the secretary of state. The headquarters of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) at Whitehall Place, which was to be vacated once the DECC was merged into the newly created Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, was viewed as a potential site for the department. The department later occupied 9 Downing Street.

The inaugural holder was David Davis MP, a longtime Eurosceptic who campaigned for the UK to leave the EU. Davis is a former chairman of the Conservative Party who served in the government of John Major as Minister of State for Europe (1994–97) and in the Shadow Cabinet of David Cameron as shadow home secretary.

Davis resigned on 8 July 2018 shortly before midnight; Dominic Raab was appointed on 9 July as his replacement and resigned on 15 November 2018. Steve Barclay, who had been serving as Minister of State for Health, was selected as Raab's successor on 16 November 2018.

List of secretaries of state for exiting the European Union (Brexit secretaries)

Colour key (for political parties):
      Conservative

Portrait Name Term of office Length of term Party Prime Minister Ref.
Official portrait of Rt Hon David Davis MP crop 2.jpg David Davis
MP for Haltemprice and Howden
13 July 2016 8 July 2018 1 year, 11 months and 25 days Conservative Theresa May
Official portrait of Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP crop 2.jpg Dominic Raab
MP for Esher and Walton
9 July 2018 15 November 2018 4 months and 6 days
Official portrait of Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP crop 2.jpg Steve Barclay
MP for North East Cambridgeshire
16 November 2018 31 January 2020 1 year, 2 months and 15 days
Boris Johnson

List of chief negotiators for exiting the European Union

Colour key (for political parties):
      Conservative

Portrait Name Term of office Length of term Party Prime Minister
Official portrait of Rt Hon David Davis MP crop 2.jpg David Davis
MP for Haltemprice and Howden
13 July 2016 18 September 2017 1 year, 2 months and 5 days Conservative Theresa May
Olly Robbins.jpg Olly Robbins
Prime Minister's Europe Adviser
18 September 2017 24 July 2019 1 year, 10 months and 6 days Civil service
David Frost, Baron Frost.jpg David Frost
Prime Minister's Europe Adviser
29 July 2019 31 January 2020 6 months and 2 days Boris Johnson

List of ministers of state for exiting the European Union

Minister of State for Exiting the European Union

List of parliamentary under-secretaries of state for exiting the European Union

Colour key (for political parties):
      Conservative

Portrait Name Term of office Length of term Party Prime Minister
Official portrait of Lord Bridges of Headley crop 2.jpg The Lord Bridges of Headley 13 July 2016 12 June 2017 10 months and 30 days Conservative Theresa May
Official portrait of Mr Steve Baker MP crop 2.jpg Steve Baker
MP for Wycombe
13 June 2017 9 July 2018 1 year and 26 days
Official portrait of Chris Heaton-Harris MP crop 2.jpg Chris Heaton-Harris
MP for Daventry
9 July 2018 3 April 2019 8 months and 25 days
Official portrait of Rt Hon James Cleverly MP crop 2.jpg James Cleverly
MP for Braintree
4 April 2019 24 July 2019 3 months and 20 days
Official portrait of Suella Braverman MP crop 2.jpg Suella Braverman
MP for Fareham
9 January 2018 15 November 2018 4 months and 6 days
Official portrait of Kwasi Kwarteng crop 2.jpg Kwasi Kwarteng
MP for Spelthorne
16 November 2018 24 July 2019 8 months and 8 days
Official portrait of Mr Robin Walker MP crop 2.jpg Robin Walker
MP for Worcester
17 July 2016 26 July 2019 3 years and 9 days
Official portrait of James Duddridge MP crop 2.jpg James Duddridge
MP for Rochford and Southend East
27 July 2019 31 January 2020 6 months and 4 days Boris Johnson

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Secretario de Estado para la Salida de la Unión Europea para niños

  • Minister of State for Europe
  • Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
  • Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations
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