Martin Callanan, Lord Callanan, has been appointed Minister of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU), replacing Joyce Anelay, Baroness Anelay of St Johns.

Lord Callanan, who spent 15 years as a Member of the European Parliament, previously served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Aviation, International and Security at the Department for Transport.

Baroness Anelay joined DExEU in June 2017, and she has spent 20 years on the front bench.

David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, said:

Joyce has made an invaluable contribution to ensuring a successful departure from the EU through her work representing Britain abroad, and representing the Department in the House of Lords.

She’s been a great part of our Ministerial team and a good friend. I wish her all the best as she returns to the back benches where she will bring an unparalleled level of experience to the task of scrutinising Brexit legislation on its way through the House of Lords.

I’m delighted to welcome Lord Callanan to the Department — he brings with him a wealth of experience in Brussels and a proven ability in political leadership. I look forward to working together as a Ministerial team to continue delivering the important task of negotiating our exit from the European Union and making a success of Brexit.

Baroness Anelay said:

It has been a huge privilege to work with and see first-hand the dedication of my Ministerial colleagues and the Civil Service as we deliver on the referendum result and negotiate the UK’s exit from the EU.

I’m immensely proud of what the Government has achieve while I have been a part of it, and am grateful for having been given the opportunity to serve.

Baroness Anelay was raised to the peerage in 1996 and served as an Opposition Spokesperson for various departments until being appointed Opposition Chief Whip in 2007.

She was appointed the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict in June 2015. Prior to this she was Chief Whip in the House of Lords and Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms. She was made a Privy Counsellor in 2009.

In August 2014, she was appointed Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in August 2014, and from July to October 2016 she had additional responsibility at the Department for International Development.

Lord Callanan was a Member of the European Parliament for the North East England constituency from 1999, re-elected in 2004 and 2009.

He became the leader of the European Conservatives and Reformists group from 2011-2014.

He was created a Life Peer on 24 September 2014 taking the title Baron Callanan, of Low Fell in the County of Tyne and Wear.

Letter from Baroness Anelay to the Prime Minister

Baroness Anelay wrote:

Dear Prime Minister,

It is with regret that I write to confirm formally my resignation as Minister of State for Exiting the European Union. After 20 years on the Front Bench, including four years as Government Chief Whip, and three years as a Minister at the FCO and DExEU, it is a great disappointment that a worsening of an injury sustained in 2015 has forced my decision. I am most grateful to you for your acceptance and understanding.

I am immensely proud of what the Government has achieved while I have been a part of it, and am grateful for having been given the opportunity to serve. I will continue to support you and your Government as strongly from the backbenches as I have while serving on the Front Bench.

As you are aware I voted remain in the referendum, but having taken the EU Referendum Act through Parliament, I believe that we have a duty to act on the instructions of the electorate. When you asked me to become Minister of State at DExEU in June this year it was therefore an offer I accepted without hesitation.

It has been a privilege to work with, and see first-hand the dedication and commitment of David Davis, Robin Walker, Steve Baker and the team of talented and professional Civil Servants working in support of our negotiations. The analysis and engagement that has taken place since the Department was created has driven the progress in the negotiations to date. I leave the Department certain that the negotiations surrounding our exit, and our future relationship with the EU, will be successful.

Alongside my duties in the House of Lords, where the quality of debate has shown the House at its very best, it has been an honour to represent the Government at the General Affairs Council of the European Union.

During the last three meetings of the General Affairs Council our participation has demonstrated that until we have left, we will continue to play a role in representing the interests of the people of the United Kingdom and continue to contribute to, and shape, the EU agenda. I have spoken in support of the importance of protection for journalists and quality journalism in safeguarding media pluralism; to highlight the UK’s on-going commitment to European security; and to advocate for open and free trade. These are all issues which reflect the fact that whilst we may be leaving the EU, we retain shared values, and we wish to remain the closest possible neighbours and friends.

Yours, as ever

Joyce

Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE

Letter from the Prime Minister to Baroness Anelay

The Prime Minister wrote:

Dear Joyce,

Thank you for your letter informing me of your decision to resign from the Government. I am very sorry that your circumstances have forced you to take this decision, which I fully understand. I am disappointed that we will no longer have the benefit of your wisdom and experience in Government, but I know that you will continue to contribute to proceedings in the House of Lords.

You should be extremely proud of your 20 years of service to our party and our country as a member of the Conservative front bench team in the House of Lords.

You have served the Government with distinction since 2010, as our Chief Whip in the House of Lords for four years, and as a Minister of State in several departments since 2014. I am particularly grateful for your work in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Department for Exiting the European Union since I became Prime Minister in July 2016.

As you say in your letter, we have a very strong team of Ministers and officials in the Department for Exiting the European Union. Thanks to your work as part of that team, you leave the Department in a strong position as we continue our negotiations with the European Union and work to secure the right deal for the whole of the United Kingdom.

Thank you again for your service, and I wish you all the best for the future.

With best wishes

Theresa

The Queen has approved the departures from Government of the Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE and Lord Prior of Brampton.

The Queen has been pleased to approve the following ministerial appointments:

• Lord Callanan as a Minister of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union (having previously been a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport).

• Rt Hon Lord Henley as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

• Lord Duncan of Springbank as a joint Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scotland Office and the Northern Ireland Office (having previously been a joint Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scotland Office and the Wales Office).

• Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth as a joint Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Wales Office (having previously been a joint Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Northern Ireland Office).

• Baroness Sugg CBE as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport (having previously been a Government Whip (Baroness in Waiting)).

• Baroness Stedman-Scott OBE as a Government Whip (Baroness in Waiting).

Read Baroness Anelay’s resignation letter and the Prime Minister’s reply.