Brexit: New Task Force Europe to lead EU trade negotiations as UK leaves bloc

Small unit in Downing Street will report directly to Boris Johnson

A new Task Force Europe, reporting direct to Boris Johnson, is to take over responsibility for negotiations with the EU after Brexit day on Friday, Downing Street has announced.

The 40-strong unit will be led by Mr Johnson’s chief negotiator David Frost, with staff drawn from across Whitehall, including deputies from the Treasury and Foreign Office.

The Department for Exiting the EU (Dexeu) – established by Theresa May in 2016 to conduct negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU – will cease to exist at 11pm on Friday, when the UK formally leaves the bloc.

And the Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay, and his ministers James Duddridge and Lord Callanan will lose their ministerial jobs as the clock strikes 11.

Mr Barclay will be hoping to be restored to the cabinet in a new role when Mr Johnson conducts the reshuffle of his top ministerial team expected in February.

No ministerial changes are understood to be planned over the weekend, but Downing Street sources declined to say whether the reshuffle could come in time for Mr Barclay to attend the first scheduled cabinet meeting after Brexit on Tuesday next week.

Downing Street said that arrangements had been made for all Dexeu staff who wish to remain within government to move to other departments.

Some will join the new Task Force Europe within No 10, which was characterised by the PM’s spokesperson as a “small and agile unit”, responsible for negotiating the future relationship with the EU and working with departments from across Whitehall.

Responsibility for diplomatic engagement with the EU returns to the Foreign Office, while the implementation of the withdrawal agreement and preparations for the UK’s new status will be overseen by Michael Gove in the Cabinet Office.

The UK’s Representation to the EU (known as UKRep) will be renamed the UK Mission in Brussels, and permanent representative Sir Tim Barrow will become the UK’s ambassador to the EU.

Stephen Barclay (Getty) (Getty Images)

During the 11-month transition period lasting until the end of 2020, the EU will engage with the EU and its member states as it would with any other international partner, said Mr Johnson’s spokesperson. At international organisations, Britain will cease to be represented by the EU and will sit as an independent country speaking on its own behalf.

“The UK will seek to deepen our relationships across the world with future partners and to do this, you can expect ministers to undertake travel to support this ambition by visiting countries around the world,” said the PM’s spokesperson.