Peers have sounded the alarm over Boris Johnson’s decision to appoint his top Brexit aide as the national security adviser while vital EU trade talks are ongoing.
Members of the Lords EU committee wrote the prime minister to warn that securing a trade deal must remain the “only priority” for David Frost, the UK’s chief Brexit negotiator, after he was handed another top government job.
Mr Frost’s surprise appointment following the departure of UK’s top civil servant Sir Mark Sedwill sparked outrage over his lack of experience in national security matters and his political background.
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Sir Mark will stand down as both national security adviser and as cabinet secretary in September following weeks of hostile newspaper briefings, widely believed to originate from Downing Street.
Mr Frost, an ally of the prime minister, will replace him in the national security role while continuing as the UK’s chief Brexit negotiator – in a clear signal that No 10’s focus is shifting away from the EU talks.
In a letter to the prime minister, committee chairman Lord Kinnoull said: “The EU is our closest neighbour and ally, and our biggest trading partner—it is difficult to over-state the importance of the UK-EU negotiations.
“It is thus critical that the negotiations should indeed remain Mr Frost’s “top priority”—in fact his only priority—until they are concluded, one way or another.
“Can you therefore confirm that Mr Frost will remain in post as the UK’s chief negotiator until the negotiations are completed and a final legal text is ready for ratification?”
Lord Kinnoull pointed to EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier’s insistence that negotiations must continue into the autumn and questioned how Mr Frost would balance the heavy demands of both roles.
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A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover
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Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o’clock at night
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Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters
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Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square
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The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels
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Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
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A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square
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EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium
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A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag
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Pedestrians pass in front of the Ministry of Defence Building on Whitehall, illuminated by red, white and blue lights in central London
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A Brexit supporter shouts during a rally in London
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Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
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Pro-EU campaigners take part in a ‘Missing EU Already’ rally outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
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A large pro-EU banner is projected onto Ramsgate cliff in Kent
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Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square in Westminster
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A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering in Parliament Square
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The five-year old Elisa Saemann, left, and her seven-year old sister Katie hold a placard during a rally by anti-Brexit protesters outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh
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Pro Europe supporters gather on Brexit day near the British embassy in Berlin, Germany
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Anti-Brexit protester hugs a man while holding a placard
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A decorated, old fashioned fire pump in Parliament Square
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Pro Brexit Elvis impersonator performs at Parliament Square
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An anti-Brexiteers stands with his dog in Parliament Square
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Paddy from Bournemouth wears Union colours as he sits next to an EU flag decorated bag in Parliament Square
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A pro-EU activist plays a guitar decorated with the EU flag during a protest organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London
AFP via Getty Images
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People celebrate Britain leaving the EU
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A Pro Brexit supporter has a Union Jack painted onto his face at Parliament Square
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Men hold placards celebrating Britain leaving the EU
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Pro Brexit supporters dance in the street draped with Union Jack flags at Parliament Square
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An anti-Brexit demonstrator spreads his wings during a gathering near Downing Street
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Pro EU supporters display a banner ‘ Here to Stay, Here to Fight, Migrants In, Tories Out’ from Westminster bridge
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Pro-Brexit supporters burn European Union flags at Parliament Square
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A man poses for a picture on Parliament Square in a ‘Brexit Day’ t-shirt
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People celebrate Britain leaving the EU
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AFP via Getty
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A man wears a pro-Brexit t-shirt
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Anti-Brexit demonstrators visit Europe House to give flowers to the staff on Brexit day
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Pro Brexit supporter wears a novelty Union Jack top hat outside the Houses of Parliament
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Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire, where a Brexit party is being held throughout the day
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Pro-EU activists protest
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A pro-Brexit demonstrator burns a European Union flag
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Pro Brexit supporters
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Pro Brexit supporters
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A Brexit supports holds a sign in Parliament Square
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A man carries an EU themed wreath
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Ann Widdecombe reacts with other members of the Brexit party as they leave en masse from the European Parliament
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Anti-Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square
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Pro EU supporters let off flares from Westminster Bridge
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British MEPs Jonathan Bullock, holding the Union Jack flag and Jake Pugh leave the European Parliament, in Brussels on the Brexit day
AFP via Getty
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Newspapers and other souvenirs at a store, near Parliament Square
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Brexit supporters hold signs in Parliament Square
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Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square
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French newspapers
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Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with a Border Communities Against Brexit poster before its unveiling in Carrickcarnon on the Irish border
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National growers organisation British Apples & Pears has renamed a British apple to EOS, the Greek goddess of dawn, to commemorate Brexit day
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Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square
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Britain’s departure from the European Union was set in law on January 29, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc’s parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. After half a century of membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (23.00 GMT) on January 31
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A man poses with paintings on Parliament Square
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People sporting Union Flags gather in Parliament Square
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A man walks with a St. George’s flag at Westminster bridge on Brexit day
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A British bulldog toy and other souvenirs at a souvenir store
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British pro-brexit Members of the European Parliament leave the EU Parliament for the last time
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Jonathan Bullock waves the Union Jack as he leaves the European Parliament
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A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover
Sky News/AFP via Getty
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Getty
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Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o’clock at night
AFP via Getty Images
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Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters
PA
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Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square
REUTERS
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The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels
PA
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Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
PA
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A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square
PA
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EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium
EPA
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A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag
PA
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Pedestrians pass in front of the Ministry of Defence Building on Whitehall, illuminated by red, white and blue lights in central London
AFP via Getty Images
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A Brexit supporter shouts during a rally in London
AP
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Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
PA
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Pro-EU campaigners take part in a ‘Missing EU Already’ rally outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
PA
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A large pro-EU banner is projected onto Ramsgate cliff in Kent
PA
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Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square in Westminster
PA
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A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
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The five-year old Elisa Saemann, left, and her seven-year old sister Katie hold a placard during a rally by anti-Brexit protesters outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh
AP
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Pro Europe supporters gather on Brexit day near the British embassy in Berlin, Germany
EPA
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Anti-Brexit protester hugs a man while holding a placard
REUTERS
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A decorated, old fashioned fire pump in Parliament Square
PA
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Pro Brexit Elvis impersonator performs at Parliament Square
Getty Images
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An anti-Brexiteers stands with his dog in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
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Paddy from Bournemouth wears Union colours as he sits next to an EU flag decorated bag in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
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A pro-EU activist plays a guitar decorated with the EU flag during a protest organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London
AFP via Getty Images
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People celebrate Britain leaving the EU
REUTERS
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A Pro Brexit supporter has a Union Jack painted onto his face at Parliament Square
Getty Images
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Men hold placards celebrating Britain leaving the EU
REUTERS
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Pro Brexit supporters dance in the street draped with Union Jack flags at Parliament Square
Getty Images
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An anti-Brexit demonstrator spreads his wings during a gathering near Downing Street
AP
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Pro EU supporters display a banner ‘ Here to Stay, Here to Fight, Migrants In, Tories Out’ from Westminster bridge
EPA
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Pro-Brexit supporters burn European Union flags at Parliament Square
Getty
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A man poses for a picture on Parliament Square in a ‘Brexit Day’ t-shirt
Reuters
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People celebrate Britain leaving the EU
Reuters
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AFP via Getty
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A man wears a pro-Brexit t-shirt
Reuters
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Anti-Brexit demonstrators visit Europe House to give flowers to the staff on Brexit day
Reuters
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Pro Brexit supporter wears a novelty Union Jack top hat outside the Houses of Parliament
Getty Images
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Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire, where a Brexit party is being held throughout the day
PA
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Getty
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Getty Images
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Pro-EU activists protest
Getty Images
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A pro-Brexit demonstrator burns a European Union flag
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Pro Brexit supporters
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Pro Brexit supporters
Getty Images
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A Brexit supports holds a sign in Parliament Square
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A man carries an EU themed wreath
Reuters
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Ann Widdecombe reacts with other members of the Brexit party as they leave en masse from the European Parliament
PA
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Anti-Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square
PA
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Pro EU supporters let off flares from Westminster Bridge
Getty
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British MEPs Jonathan Bullock, holding the Union Jack flag and Jake Pugh leave the European Parliament, in Brussels on the Brexit day
AFP via Getty
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Newspapers and other souvenirs at a store, near Parliament Square
Reuters
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Brexit supporters hold signs in Parliament Square
AP
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Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty
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French newspapers
PA
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Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with a Border Communities Against Brexit poster before its unveiling in Carrickcarnon on the Irish border
PA
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National growers organisation British Apples & Pears has renamed a British apple to EOS, the Greek goddess of dawn, to commemorate Brexit day
AP
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Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty
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Britain’s departure from the European Union was set in law on January 29, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc’s parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. After half a century of membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (23.00 GMT) on January 31
Reuters
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A man poses with paintings on Parliament Square
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People sporting Union Flags gather in Parliament Square
Getty
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A man walks with a St. George’s flag at Westminster bridge on Brexit day
Reuters
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A British bulldog toy and other souvenirs at a souvenir store
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British pro-brexit Members of the European Parliament leave the EU Parliament for the last time
Reuters
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Jonathan Bullock waves the Union Jack as he leaves the European Parliament
EPA
It comes as the first face-to-face trade talks with Brussels ended a day early, with the British team saying “significant differences” remain between both sides.
Both sides will meet again next week in London but clear divisions remain over issues such as fishing rights and EU regulations.
If a deal cannot be struck before the end of the transition period in December, the UK will crash out of the EU’s single market and the customs union without any agreement on future access.
