Brexit minister Lord Frost has resigned from Boris Johnson’s government.
According to The Mail on Sunday, which first reported the news, the politician handed in his resignation a week ago, and in his letter - which was circulated in the media last night- he said it would take “immediate effect”.
Writing to prime minister Boris Johnson about his reasons for his resignation, he said that while he was proud of a “secure” Brexit which “gave us full freedom about our future choices as a country”, he had “concerns about the current direction of travel” of the government.
BREAK: Lord Frost's resignation letter👇 pic.twitter.com/IccesXuZn5
— Tom Harwood (@tomhfh) December 18, 2021
He added he wished to see a “lightly regulated, low-tax, entrepreneurial economy” and spoke of a “need to learn to live with Covid”, saying “I hope we can get back on track soon and not be tempted by the kind of coercive measures we have seen elsewhere.”
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Frost led the UK’s negotiations over the EU Withdrawal Agreement and Northern Ireland Protocol which are still ongoing, so his resignation also raises questions about what will happen next.
And his resignation also comes amid concerns about Johnson’s leadership after the Tories suffered a by-election defeat on Friday, losing safe seat North Shropshire to the Liberal Democrats after incumbent Owen Paterson resigned in November over that sleaze scandal.
Meanwhile, 99 of Johnson’s own MPs rebelled against the introduction of Plan B measures to deal with the spread of coronavirus last week, the government is dealing with the fallout of alleged controversial Christmas parties, and there are rumours that conversations are happening about which leading Tory could replace Johnson.
So, with the departure of Frost, it appears that Johnson’s leadership could be further damaged. Here’s how MPs, journalists and other public figures have reacted to his shock departure:
Lord Frost is leaving the government because he is a conservative and true Brexiteer. Boris Johnson is neither.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) December 18, 2021
Good riddance to Lord Frost an arrogant individual with a contemptuous and dangerous disregard for parliamentary democracy - the PM who appointed him should follow his example and quit now
— Kevin Brennan MP (@KevinBrennanMP) December 18, 2021
Utter twaddle. #Frost is yet another ideologue who when faced with #BrexitReality - bottled it & ran away. On every level and in every way #Brexit is bad for Britain. Brexit was built on lies peddled by ideological charlatans. Leaving the #EU has been a dreadful mistake. https://t.co/oP4VnMN0SH
— Anna Soubry (@Anna_Soubry) December 18, 2021
So much this. David, sorry Lord, Frost was basically every Brexit minister rolled into one.
— Peter Geoghegan (@PeterKGeoghegan) December 18, 2021
Vainglorious jingoism, puffed up rhetoric and, in the end, a failure who flounced off when faced with the reality of the ‘sunlit uplands’ https://t.co/DSOfvredIy
Lord Frost has resigned because he knows his Brexit deal is disintegrating in deep crisis and he wants to get out before the whole fiasco and disaster of Brexit is pinned on him personally as Johnson’s factotum and lackey
— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) December 18, 2021
Terrible news.The only Minister who understood the protocol couldn’t work. Brilliant in the Lords with the many many EU zealots and Rejoiners Calm and thoughtful. A big blow to Government - shows how far they have moved away from Taking Back Control over Protocol @DavidGHFrost https://t.co/sfTxhqe9jL
— Kate Hoey (@CatharineHoey) December 18, 2021
The resignation of Lord Frost from the cabinet is a big moment for the Government but enormous for those of us who believed he would deliver for NI. Wishing him all the best @DavidGHFrost.
— Arlene Foster #WeWillMeetAgain (@ArleneFosterUK) December 18, 2021
Lord Frost is one of the most disciplined, focussed, and strategic individuals I have ever met. A formidable brain but also a leader who, with Oliver Lewis, brought together talented officials to deliver the impossible. He has nerves of steel and somehow gave us faith to wait 1/
— Nikki da Costa (@nmdacosta) December 18, 2021
If true I can’t say I’m sorry. He was unsuited to the “doing of politics”, never understood the need for personal rapport or the importance of trust. I hope whoever takes over will be from the Commons where we can all question directly. https://t.co/q9qEgSoR37
— Simon Hoare MP (@Simon4NDorset) December 18, 2021
The Prime Minister is running out of time and out of friends to deliver on the promises and discipline of a true Conservative Government.
— Andrew Bridgen (@ABridgen) December 18, 2021
Lord Frost has made it clear, 100 Conservative backbenchers have made it clear, but most importantly so did the people of North Shropshire.
Frosty built a great team, with great officials & spads working harmoniously, to do an outstanding job in extremely tough circumstances given the🛒 wd smash & crash hourly, promise us Churchillian resolution then collapse, & wd never read the papers https://t.co/TCWvDpnwgK
— Dominic Cummings (@Dominic2306) December 18, 2021
The prime minister responded by thanking Lord Frost for his “unique contribution towards getting Brexit done”.
Yeah, thank goodness for that...
