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Liz Truss is the new Brexit negotiator and people have a lot of thoughts - 13 top reactions

Liz Truss is the new Brexit negotiator and people have a lot of thoughts - 13 top reactions

Liz Truss sure is getting busy, after the Tory MP bagged another ministerial role at the weekend following Lord Frost’s resignation as Brexit minister.

Resigning with immediate effect on Saturday, the Conservative peer expressed “concerns about the current direction of travel” on the EU exit and told Boris Johnson that “we also need to learn to live with Covid”.

“I hope we can get back on track soon and not be tempted by the kind of coercive measures we have seen elsewhere,” Lord Frost added. He also expressed his desire for the UK to become a “lightly regulated, low-tax” economy.

The politician’s resignation was despite him previously agreeing to step down from the role in January.

At the end of a week involving Christmas party scandals and Tory rebellions, the prime minister appointed Truss – who is currently foreign secretary and women and equalities minister – as Lord Frost’s replacement.

Confirming the news on Twitter, the South West Norfolk MP said she was “pleased” to take on the new role.

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As is to be expected, political opponents weren’t.

“I guess this is one way of scuppering a rival,” tweeted Labour MP Jess Phillips.

The Liberal Democrats’ foreign affairs spokesperson, Layla Moran, made similar remarks: “The Tories are tearing themselves apart under Boris Johnson. The Prime Minister is more interested in setting his leadership rivals up to fail than doing what’s right for the country.

“Liz Truss has shown time and again that she doesn’t care about the national interest – she’s only interested in appealing to Conservative party members. That is a disgrace.”

Yes, that appears to be a reference to Truss’ infamous 2014 party conference speech, in which she expressed her dismay at cheese imports and her excitement at opening up new pork markets in Beijing.

Meanwhile, Labour’s shadow Brexit minister Baroness Jenny Chapman said: “After the past few days of chaos at the heart of Government, I congratulate Liz Truss on her appointment as lead negotiator with the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol.”

Twitter users also heaped on the ridicule:

Truss’ appointment also comes despite her previously supporting remain at the time of the 2016 EU referendum.

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