British Prime Minister Theresa May appointed on Monday Dominic Raab as the new Brexit Secretary after his predecessor quit in protest at the government’s plans for a close trading relationship with the European Union.
“The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Dominic Raab MP as Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union,” a statement from May’s office said.
Raab was previously a minister for housing.
Raab is firmly in the Brexit camp but acknowledges that many voters in his constituency southwest of London felt strongly the other way. Since the 2016 referendum, he has adopted a policy of meeting one anti-Brexit constituent a week to hear them out.
He is a libertarian lawyer whose instincts are for a hard Brexit, making his willingness to accept the job of selling a soft one a surprise. His decision could also damage his long-nursed prospects of one day leading the Tories.
Five crucial facts about the new Housing Minister:
- He was once tipped to lead the Conservative Party
- He’s pro-Leave
- He’s determined to protect the Green Belt
- He was the Spectator’s ‘Newcomer of the Year’ in 2011
- He’s a former lawyer who has worked for the foreign office
Source: CNBC, Bloomberg & Showhouse
