Department for Exiting the European Union

Former department of the UK Government

Department for Exiting the European Union

Department overview
Formed| 14 July 2016
Dissolved| 31 January 2020 23:00 GMT[1]
Superseding department|

* Cabinet Office; Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Jurisdiction| United Kingdom
Headquarters| 9 Downing Street, London, England[2]
Employees| 700+[3]
Minister responsible|

* Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Last)

Department executive|

* Clare Moriarty, Permanent Secretary

Website| Official website

The Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU; also known as the Department for Brexit or Brexit Department)[2] was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for overseeing negotiations relating to Brexit, and establishing the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the EU.[2] It was formed by the Prime Minister, Theresa May, in July 2016, in the wake of the referendum vote to leave the European Union.[4] The department was dissolved on 31 January 2020 when Brexit took effect.[1]

The department was formed by combining staff from the Cabinet Office’s Europe Unit, the Europe Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the United Kingdom's Permanent Representation to the EU, and was able to take on staff from other government departments as necessary.[5] The department was overseen by David Davis MP until he resigned on 8 July 2018.[6][7] Dominic Raab was appointed as Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on 9 July 2018,[8] but resigned on 15 November 2018 over the draft withdrawal agreement.[9] His replacement was announced on 16 November 2018 to be Steve Barclay.[10]

Part of a series of articles on

Brexit

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union

* * *

Glossary of terms

Background

* European Communities Act
* 1975 EC membership referendum
* UK rebate
* Bruges speech
* No. No. No.
* Maastricht Rebels
* Black Wednesday
* European Union (Amendment) Act 2008
* European Union Act 2011
* UK opt-outs from EU legislation
* Euroscepticism in the UK
* UK opinion polling on EU membership
* Campaigns for a referendum
* People's Pledge
* Labour for a Referendum
* Bloomberg speech
* In or Out
* 2013–14 EU (Referendum) Bill (unsuccessful)
* 2014 European Parliament election
* 2014 UK Parliament by-elections
* Clacton
* Heywood and Middleton
* Rochester and Strood
* 2015 UK general election
* 2015–16 EU membership renegotiation

2016 referendum

* EU Referendum Act (Gibraltar)
* EU Referendum (Date of Referendum etc.) Regulations
* EU Referendum (Conduct) Regulations
* Issues
* Endorsements
* Opinion polling
* UK Government pro-EU leaflet

* * *

Campaigns

Leave campaigns

* Vote Leave (official)
* Business for Britain
* Conservatives for Britain
* BeLeave
* Leave.EU
* Bpoplive
* The Freedom Association
* Better Off Out
* Grassroots Out
* Labour Leave
* Get Britain Out
* Bruges Group
* Campaign for an Independent Britain
* Brexit: The Movie

Remain campaigns

* Britain Stronger in Europe (official)
* Labour In for Britain
* European Movement UK
* Britain in Europe
* British Influence
* Business for New Europe
* Nucleus
* Project Fear

* * *

Outcome

* Results
* Causes for result
* International reactions
* Immediate aftermath
* 2016 Conservative Party election
* 2016 Labour Party election
* 2016 UKIP election
* Department for Exiting the EU
* Department for International Trade
* Allegations of unlawful campaigning
* Alleged Russian interference

Notice of withdrawal

* Article 50 process
* Miller case (Article 50)
* EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017
* Brexit plan
* Repeal Bill plan
* 2017 UK general election

Negotiations

* Negotiation positions
* EU negotiation mandate
* Chequers agreement
* Timeline: 2017, 2018, 2019
* 2019 European Parliament election
* 2019 UK general election

Withdrawal agreement

* Brexit divorce bill
* Fish for finance
* Irish backstop
* No-deal Brexit
* Northern Ireland Protocol
* Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
* Windsor Framework

Legislation

* Withdrawal Act 2018 (Gibraltar)
* Nuclear Safeguards Act 2018
* Cooper–Letwin Act
* Benn Act
* 2019 suspension of rebel Conservative MPs
* Public Vote Bill (not passed)
* Terms of Withdrawal Bills (not passed)
* Scottish EU Continuity Bill (blocked)
* Withdrawal Agreement Act (Gibraltar)
* Scottish EU Continuity Act
* Internal Market Act
* EU (Future Relationship) Act
* Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill

Impact

* Impact on the Irish border
* Good Friday Agreement
* Impact on the EU
* Economic effects
* Effects on Gibraltar
* Scientific cooperation
* Effects on popular culture
* Retained EU law
* 2021 Jersey dispute

EU–UK relations

* Relations pre- and post-Brexit
* EU–UK trade negotiation
* EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA)
* Partnership Council
* Partnership Assembly

* * *

Relations with EU member states

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Akrotiri and Dhekelia
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Ireland
* Ireland–UK border
* British–Irish Council
* North/South Ministerial Council
* Italy
* Lithuania
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Spain
* Status of Gibraltar
* Gibraltar–Spain border
* Sweden

* * *

* Conjectured EEA membership

Opposition

* Post-referendum opinion polling
* New initiatives
* Change Britain
* More United
* Open Britain
* The New European
* Unite to Remain
* Led By Donkeys
* Revoke Article 50 petition
* Postcards from the 48%
* Proposed second Scottish independence referendum

* * *

Calls for a second referendum

* People's Vote
* Britain for Europe
* European Movement UK
* For our Future's Sake
* Healthier IN the EU
* InFacts
* Open Britain
* Our Future Our Choice
* Scientists for EU
* Other organisations
* Best for Britain
* Bollocks to Brexit
* Change UK
* Liberal Democrats
* Right to Vote

Timeline

|  Bloomberg speech|  Jan 2013

|

Referendum Bill blocked| Jan 2014
European Parliament election|  May 2014
2015 general election|  May 2015
Renegotiation begins|  Jun 2015
Referendum Act passed|  Dec 2015
Renegotiation concluded|  Feb 2016
Referendum held|  Jun 2016
David Cameron resigns as PM|  Jul 2016
Theresa May becomes PM|  Jul 2016
Article 50 judgement|  Jan 2017
Brexit plan presented| Feb 2017
Notification Act passed|  Mar 2017
Article 50 invoked|  Mar 2017
Repeal Bill plan presented| Mar 2017
2017 general election|  Jun 2017
Brexit negotiations begin|  Jun 2017
Withdrawal Act passed| Jun 2018
Chequers plan presented|  Jul 2018
Withdrawal agreement plan presented|  July 2018
Withdrawal agreement released|  Nov 2018
Scottish Continuity Bill blocked| Dec 2018
Meaningful votes|  Jan–Mar 2019
Brexit delayed until 12 April|  Mar 2019
Cooper–Letwin Act passed|  Apr 2019
Brexit delayed until 31 October|  Apr 2019
European Parliament election|  May 2019
Theresa May resigns as PM|  Jul 2019
Boris Johnson becomes PM|  Jul 2019
Prorogation and annulment|  Aug–Sep 2019
Benn Act passed|  Sep 2019
Withdrawal agreement revised|  Oct 2019
Brexit delayed until 31 January|  Oct 2019
2019 general election|  Dec 2019
Agreement Act passed|  Jan 2020
UK leaves the European Union|  Jan 2020
Implementation period begins|  Jan 2020
UK–EU trade deal agreed|  Dec 2020
Future Relationship Act passed|  Dec 2020
Scottish Continuity Act passed|  Dec 2020
Implementation period ends|  Dec 2020
New EU–UK relationship begins|  Jan 2021
UK–EU trade deal ratified|  Apr 2021
Windsor Framework released|  Feb 2023
Windsor framework adopted|  Mar 2023

* EU portal
* UK portal

* v
* t
* e

Part of a series of articles on

UK membership
of the European Union
(1973–2020)

Accession

* Treaty of Accession 1972
* 1972 EC Act
* 1973 enlargement of the EC

1975 referendum

* Referendum Act (results)

Treaty amendments

|  Single European Act, 1986|  (UK ratification)

|

Maastricht Treaty, 1992|  (UK ratification)
Treaty of Amsterdam, 1997|  (UK ratification)
Treaty of Nice, 2001|  (UK ratification)
Treaty of Lisbon, 2007|  (UK ratification)

* * *

Related:

* 2011 UK Act on new EU Treaty amendments
* EU-related British Acts
* Proposed European Constitution referendum
* European Union Bill 2004–2005

MEPs for UK constituencies

| Members 1973–1979|  (elected by parliament)

|

Members 1979–1984|  (1979 election)
Members 1984–1989|  (1984 election)
Members 1989–1994|  (1989 election)
Members 1994–1999|  (1994 election)
Members 1999–2004|  (1999 election)
Members 2004–2009|  (2004 election)
Members 2009–2014|  (2009 election)
Members 2014–2019|  (2014 election)
Members 2019–2020|  (2019 election)

* * *

Women

Officials and bodies

* House of Lords EU Committee
* House of Commons EU Committee
* Permanent EU Representatives for UK
* Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels
* EU Representative in London
* UK European Commissioners
* Department for Exiting the European Union

Issues and events

* Economy
* The Euro
* Black Wednesday
* UK budget rebate
* Nationality law
* Euroscepticism in the UK
* United Kingdom opt-outs from EU legislation
* Maastricht Rebels
* Balance of Competences Review

Withdrawal

* 2015 UK general election
* 2015–2016 membership renegotiation
* 2016 EU membership referendum
* Vote Leave
* Britain Stronger in Europe
* Notification of withdrawal
* 2017 UK general election
* Brexit negotiations
* Impact of Brexit
* Future relationship
* Withdrawal agreement
* No-deal Brexit
* Impact on Irish border
* Northern Ireland Protocol
* Parliamentary votes
* Proposed second referendum
* 2019 UK general election

* EU portal
* UK portal

* v
* t
* e

## Responsibilities

[edit]

The responsibilities of the department included:

1. Achieve the best possible outcome for the UK's departure from the EU; and build a new ambitious, deep and special future partnership between the UK and the EU.[11]
2. Coordinate delivery and legislation across government, to ensure the UK is prepared for all scenarios, including a smooth transition to our future relationship with the European Union.[11]
3. Engage with Parliament, Member States and interested parties at home and abroad to shape a successful exit from the EU and to help build an ambitious future relationship.[11]

## Ministers

[edit]

The Ministers in the Department for Exiting the European Union were as follows:[12]

Minister  | Rank  | Portfolio

|
|

The Rt Hon. Steve Barclay MP  | Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union | Overall responsibility for the work of the department; including work to support the UK's negotiations to leave the EU and to conduct the negotiations in support of the Prime Minister
The Rt Hon. The Lord Callanan | Minister of State for Exiting the European Union | Departmental business in the House of Lords, EU ongoing business, general affairs council, JMC(E), civil society, and EU institutions
James Duddridge MP  | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union | Legislation and constitution; citizens and networks (including justice, data and Near Neighbours); market access, trade and Future Economic Partnership; security; Northern Ireland and Ireland; business engagement (including SME champion); Devolved Administrations; English Regions; Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

The first Permanent Secretary at the department was Oliver Robbins. In September 2017, Robbins left the department as the prime minister appointed him the EU adviser in the Cabinet Office.[13] In October 2017, Philip Rycroft was appointed the new Permanent Secretary,[14] having previously been the department's Second Permanent Secretary. After his departure in March 2019, he was replaced by Clare Moriarty, previously Permanent Secretary of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

## Senior management

[edit]

The department's senior management team included:[11]

* Permanent Secretary: Clare Moriarty
* UK Permanent Representative to the EU: Sir Tim Barrow KCMG LVO MBE
* Director General – Emma Ward
* Director General – Simon Ridley
* Acting Director General – Anna Clunes
* Director for Legislation & Constitution – Emma Payne
* Director for Analysis – Ben Cropper
* Co-Director for Market Access and Budget – Chris Hobley
* Co-Director for Market Access and Budget & DExEU Chief Scientific Adviser – Eoin Parker
* Director for Negotiations Strategy – Rhys Bowen
* Co-Director for Citizens and Networks – Rebecca Evernden
* Co-Director for Citizens and Networks – Nicola Webb
* Director for Security, Territories and Ongoing Business – VACANT
* Co-Director for Communications & Stakeholders – Olivier Evans
* Co-Director for Communications & Stakeholders – Simon Baugh
* Director for Business Engagement & Readiness – Nathan Phillips
* Co-Director for Domestic Policy & Implementation (Policy) – David Lamberti
* Co-Director for Domestic Policy & Implementation (Implementation) – Colin Dingwall
* Co-Director for Corporate Centre – Helen Mills
* Co-Director for Corporate Centre – Kate Caulkin
* DExEU Legal Advisers – Cathy Adams and Daniel Denman

## Staff

[edit]

In March 2018 government data stated the department had 636 full-time equivalent posts,[15] rising to 651 in August 2018 (excluding contractors, management consultants and fast streamers[16]) on an average (mean) monthly wage of £5,890 including allowances.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Queen's Speech LIVE: Focus on Brexit and NHS as Boris Johnson looks to deliver election promises". Sky News. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
2. ^ a b c "Department for Exiting the European Union". GOV.UK. 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
3. ^ "Civil Service Careers". www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
4. ^ "Theresa May signals Whitehall rejig with two new Cabinet posts". Civil Service World. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
5. ^ "Machinery of Government Changes:Written statement – HCWS94". Hansard. 18 July 2016. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
6. ^ Rayner, Gordon (8 July 2018). "David Davis resigns as Brexit secretary". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
7. ^ "Brexit Secretary David Davis resigns". BBC News. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
8. ^ Dan Sabbagh; Jessica Elgot (9 July 2018). "Dominic Raab named Brexit secretary in cabinet reshuffle". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
9. ^ "Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigns over EU agreement". BBC News. 15 November 2018. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
10. ^ "Stephen Barclay named new Brexit Secretary". BBC News. 16 November 2018. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
11. ^ a b c d "About us". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020. Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0 Archived 28 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine. © Crown copyright.
12. ^ "Department for Exiting the European Union". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
13. ^ Johnstone, Richard (18 September 2017). "Oliver Robbins leaves DExEU to lead cross-government Brexit coordination in Number 10". Civil Service World. Archived from the original on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
14. ^ "Philip Rycroft". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
15. ^ "DExEU monthly workforce management information: March 2018". Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
16. ^ "DExEU monthly workforce management information: August 2018 – GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

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