UK Brexit minister Lord Frost has resigned from Boris Johnson's cabinet, the Mail on Sunday has reported.
Lord Frost, who has led negotiations with the EU, is reported to have handed in his resignation letter to Mr Johnson last week.
However, the Mail on Sunday reported he had been convinced to stay on until January.
The newspaper reported it was the introduction of Plan B coronavirus measures that prompted Lord Frost’s decision, including the implementation of Covid passes.
It also said that he had become disillusioned by tax rises and the cost of net-zero policies.
Lord Frost has recently been locked in tense rounds of talks with European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic as the UK and the EU attempt to close gaps in post-Brexit arrangements.
Northern Ireland’s former first minister Arlene Foster described Lord Frost’s resignation as “enormous”.
In a tweet, she said: “The resignation of Lord Frost from the cabinet is a big moment for the government but enormous for those of us who believed he would deliver for NI.”
The resignation of Lord Frost from the cabinet is a big moment for the Government but enormous for those of us who believed he would deliver for NI. Wishing him all the best @DavidGHFrost.
— Arlene Foster DBE PC #ProudofNI. (@ArleneFosterUK) December 18, 2021
