Gove relaxed about losing key Brexit brief to Lord Frost, allies suggest
February 19, 2021, 12:35 pm

Gove relaxed about losing key Brexit brief to Lord Frost, allies suggest

Michael Gove was said by one source to have ‘had a lot of Brexit’.

Minister expected to become head of Cabinet Office ‘union unit’ in run-up to local elections

Allies of Michael Gove have insisted he does not feel chastened after Boris Johnson wrested the key Brexit brief away from him and appointed his chief EU negotiator, Lord Frost, as a full-time member of the cabinet.

With his duties reduced, Gove is expected to step up work strengthening the ties between the countries of the United Kingdom as head of the Cabinet Office “union unit” in the run-up to elections in May, the Guardian understands. “There will be more focus on it,” one No 10 source said.

Johnson himself holds the position of minister for the union but had previously been urged to create a dedicated role to respond to growing support for Scottish independence as well as tensions in Northern Ireland.

A leaked report from late 2019 by the former Scottish minister Lord Dunlop suggested the creation of a senior cabinet post on a par with those of the chancellor, foreign secretary and home secretary to oversee “the functioning of the union”, though Downing Street has not embraced the idea so far.

Gove has frequently raised the need to head off a strong independence movement in Scotland and was one of those around the cabinet table to oppose a “no deal” Brexit scenario amid fears it would further fuel calls for another independence referendum.

Sources say the internal market bill was also seen by Gove as a way of pulling Scotland and Northern Ireland closer to London before it got hijacked by the controversial, and now aborted, Brexit clauses.

One source previously close to Gove’s own Conservative party leadership campaign, said they believed there was a tacit understanding that Gove would eventually get more responsibilities, which could be a big policy brief – such as health or home affairs, currently headed by Matt Hancock and Priti Patel – in any upcoming reshuffle.However, such a move to a distinct policy area would also allow Johnson’s old rival to be eased away from top-level strategy decisions.

On Wednesday, Lord Frost, who is said to be the person Johnson trusts most intimately in government, was handed a full ministerial brief and a seat at the cabinet table to take charge of post-Brexit Britain, including the chairmanship of the partnership council due to oversee operation of the Brexit trade deal, which was given to Gove just two days previously.

Sources confirmed that Frost, who was given a peerage last year, had demanded a ministerial post – although under the Brexit deal the UK chair of the partnership council had to be ministerial level or above.

Frost, a former UK ambassador and whisky lobbyist, was originally offered the post of national security adviser, an appointment that drew anger in Whitehall and from some MPs including former prime minister Theresa May because of his perceived lack of experience.

The job was withdrawn from Frost and given to Sir Stephen Lovegrove in late January, with Frost given responsibilities as the prime minister’s EU relations adviser, though it will now come with full ministerial perks.

One Whitehall source said the transition had been “harmonious” but suggested there had been some spin around Gove’s apparent demotion in order to counter the narrative that there had been a Gove “takeover” in No 10 after two of his most trusted aides, Lady Finn and Henry Newman, were promoted to work in Downing Street by the prime minister’s new chief of staff, Dan Rosenfeld.

Another Gove ally called the suggestion of a No 10 feud “totally overblown mischief making”. They said that Gove himself had made it clear he wanted to move on from Brexit and look more closely at internal government reform.

Johnson has asked Gove to chair the national recovery taskforce subcommittee which deals with public services, including the backlog in the courts, the NHS, schools and universities. “He’s had a lot of Brexit,” the source said, insisting Gove had himself suggested Frost for the partnership council role.

Gove has chaired more than 200 meetings of the EU exit operations committee – known inside Whitehall as XO, which deals with issues arising from Brexit. That committee is also expected to be wound down in July when final Brexit controls are introduced on the UK side of the border in Northern Ireland.

source: Jessica Elgot

Levant

Boris Johnson to pledge surplus Covid vaccine to poorer countries at G7 Trust in law at risk if ministers bypass parliament, says ex-legal chief

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.