Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union

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):

Portrait Name Term of office Length of term Party Prime Minister Ref. David DavisMP for Haltemprice and Howden 13 July 2016 8 July 2018 Conservative Theresa May Dominic RaabMP for Esher and Walton 9 July 2018 15 November 2018 Steve BarclayMP for North East Cambridgeshire 16 November 2018 31 January 2020 Boris Johnson

List of chief negotiators for exiting the European Union Colour key (for political parties):

Portrait Name Term of office Length of term PartyPrime Minister David DavisMP for Haltemprice and Howden 13 July 2016 18 September 2017 Conservative Theresa May Olly RobbinsPrime Minister's Europe Adviser 18 September 2017 24 July 2019 Civil service David FrostPrime Minister's Europe Adviser 29 July 2019 31 January 2020 Boris Johnson

List of ministers of state for exiting the European Union

List of parliamentary under-secretaries of state for exiting the European Union Colour key (for political parties):

Portrait Name Term of office Length of term Party Prime Minister George Bridges, Baron Bridges of Headley 13 July 2016 12 June 2017 Conservative Theresa May Steve BakerMP for Wycombe 13 June 2017 9 July 2018 Chris Heaton-HarrisMP for Daventry 9 July 2018 3 April 2019 James CleverlyMP for Braintree 4 April 2019 24 July 2019 Suella BravermanMP for Fareham9 January 201815 November 2018 Kwasi KwartengMP for Spelthorne 16 November 2018 24 July 2019 Robin WalkerMP for Worcester17 July 201626 July 2019 James DuddridgeMP for Rochford and Southend East 27 July 2019 31 January 2020 Boris Johnson

Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union

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