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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Government to shut Brexit department on 31 January | Government to shut Brexit department on 31 January |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) will be closed down on 31 January - Brexit deadline day. | The Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) will be closed down on 31 January - Brexit deadline day. |
| The government department, led by Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, oversaw negotiations between the UK and EU on the exit and future relationship. | The government department, led by Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, oversaw negotiations between the UK and EU on the exit and future relationship. |
| The exit deal is now contained within a bill, expected to pass Parliament with the Conservatives' 80-strong majority. | The exit deal is now contained within a bill, expected to pass Parliament with the Conservatives' 80-strong majority. |
| Staff were told about the closure on Thursday, but the PM's spokesman said they would help them find jobs. | Staff were told about the closure on Thursday, but the PM's spokesman said they would help them find jobs. |
| A statement from No 10 said: "The Department for Exiting the European Union will be wound up once the UK leaves the EU on the 31 January. | A statement from No 10 said: "The Department for Exiting the European Union will be wound up once the UK leaves the EU on the 31 January. |
| "DExEU staff have been spoken to today. We are very grateful for all their work and we will help everyone to find new roles." | "DExEU staff have been spoken to today. We are very grateful for all their work and we will help everyone to find new roles." |
| May's secretaries | May's secretaries |
| The department was set up by former Prime Minister Theresa May in 2016 in the wake of the referendum result. | The department was set up by former Prime Minister Theresa May in 2016 in the wake of the referendum result. |
| DExEU has had three Brexit secretaries in its three years - starting with David Davis, who resigned in 2018 in disagreement with Mrs May's plan to leave the EU. | DExEU has had three Brexit secretaries in its three years - starting with David Davis, who resigned in 2018 in disagreement with Mrs May's plan to leave the EU. |
| He was followed by the now-Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who also resigned four months later over Mrs May's approach. | He was followed by the now-Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who also resigned four months later over Mrs May's approach. |
| Mr Barclay took over in November 2018 and was kept on by Mr Johnson after he took over in No 10 last summer. | Mr Barclay took over in November 2018 and was kept on by Mr Johnson after he took over in No 10 last summer. |
| A former advisor to the department, Raoul Ruparel, said closing down DExEU was the "right decision" and "most sensible way to proceed". | |
| However, he warned the expertise built up by the staff was "still very necessary". | |
| Mr Ruparel, who also advised Mrs May on Europe, added: "I hope this will be maintained and those civil servants who want to go off to work on other issues will be supported." |