Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
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| Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union | |
|---|---|
 Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source | |
| Name | Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union |
| Department | Department for Exiting the European Union |
| Style | The Right Honourable |
| First | David Davis |
| Formation | 13 July 2016 |
| Abolished | 31 January 2020 |
| Appointer | Monarch on advice of the Prime Minister |
| Seat | Westminster |
Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union was a United Kingdom cabinet position established in 2016 to lead the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union after the 2016 referendum. The post was responsible for negotiating the terms of exit, coordinating with other departments such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and presenting settlement arrangements to Parliament, working closely with Downing Street and the House of Commons. It was created by Prime Minister Theresa May following her appointment and was abolished upon the UK's formal departure on 31 January 2020 during Prime Minister Boris Johnson's tenure.
History
The office was created in the aftermath of the 23 June 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum in which the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. Prime Minister Theresa May announced the formation of the Department for Exiting the European Union on 13 July 2016 and appointed David Davis as the inaugural secretary. The post existed through successive administrations including those of Theresa May and Boris Johnson and oversaw critical events such as the invocation of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union by the government, the negotiation of the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Commission, and debates around parliamentary ratification in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The role concluded when the UK completed its exit and transitioned to arrangements under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and other post-exit frameworks.
Responsibilities and Powers
The secretary led the Department for Exiting the European Union and was a full member of the cabinet in 10 Downing Street's ministerial team. Key responsibilities included conducting negotiations with the European Council, the European Commission, and the European Parliament's relevant committees, shaping the government's legal position under the European Communities Act 1972 repeal mechanisms, and coordinating with the Treasury, the Ministry of Defence, and the Home Office on transitional arrangements. The office advised the Prime Minister on invoking Article 50 and oversaw implementation legislation such as the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and the Withdrawal Agreement's provisions on citizens' rights. The secretary had authority to appoint negotiation teams, issue policy papers, and represent the UK in intergovernmental forums alongside the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister.
Ministers and Officeholders
The first officeholder, David Davis, served from July 2016 until July 2018 and led initial negotiations including the triggering of Article 50. He was succeeded by Dominic Raab, who served briefly in 2018–2019 amidst the shelving of the cabinet's Withdrawal Agreement in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom's deliberations. Following Raab's resignation, Stephen Barclay was appointed and served through the end of 2019 into the early 2020 transition period, working under Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the government shifted focus to implementing the negotiated exit. These ministers worked alongside parliamentary figures such as the Speaker of the House of Commons and negotiators from the European Research Group as well as with civil servants drawn from the Civil Service Commission and the Cabinet Office.
Department and Structure
The Department for Exiting the European Union operated from offices in Whitehall and coordinated with embassies including the British Embassy, Brussels. Its structure included directorates focused on areas such as legal affairs, citizens' rights, trade transition, and devolved administrations relations with Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive. The department liaised with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Trade, and the Ministry of Justice on treaty implementation and dispute resolution mechanisms. Senior civil servants such as permanent secretaries and directors-general supported ministers, while special advisers and external negotiators engaged with counterparts from the European Commission and member-state delegations such as France, Germany, and Ireland.
Role in Brexit Negotiations
The secretary was the UK's chief political representative for exit negotiations, shaping the government's stance in talks over the Withdrawal Agreement, the future relationship, and transition arrangements. Negotiations involved interaction with the Chief Negotiator of the European Union, representatives like Michel Barnier, and the collective institutions of the EU including the European Council (EU), the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union. The office coordinated legal and technical workstreams addressing issues such as the Northern Ireland Protocol, citizens' rights, financial settlements often referred to as the "divorce bill", and the timing of transitional arrangements. It also engaged with industry bodies, trade unions, and devolved administrations to manage domestic implications and secure parliamentary approval for negotiated texts.
Criticism and Controversies
The office attracted criticism over strategy, transparency, and effectiveness from a range of actors including opposition parties such as the Labour Party, pressure groups like Leave.EU and Best for Britain, and media outlets such as The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph. Controversies included disagreements over the handling of Article 50, the content of the Withdrawal Agreement, the proposed Irish backstop and later Northern Ireland Protocol, legal challenges heard in courts such as the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, and resignations by cabinet ministers. Critics argued the department duplicated existing functions of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and lacked sufficient resources, prompting debates in the House of Commons and inquiries by select committees including the Exiting the European Union Select Committee.