Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab

Mr Raab has become Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union in July 2018, following the resignation of David Davis. An ardent Brexiteer, in February 2016, Mr Raab announced his intention to campaign for the UK to leave the EU, countering arguments that Britain would be less safe it was to leave, he stated: "It is inconceivable that European leaders would not want the closest possible cooperation with us over dealing with terrorism". In September 2016 he was announced as a member of the Political Advisory Board of Leave Means Leave, the campaign for a "swift, clean exit from the EU". Though previously backing fellow leaving Michael Gove during the short-lived Conservative leadership contest following David Cameron's resignation as Prime Minister, Mr Raab later said in an article for the Independent, that “Theresa May is by far the strongest leader to navigate the bumpy terrain ahead – and secure the best deal for Britain.” In an interview with the BBC’s Nick Robinson on his Political Thinking podcast, Mr Raab reiterated his commitment to leaving the customs union, stating that it was “promised to the voters”. However, he warned that the bridge to Brexit could be “rocky” and “takes more time” than previously expected. Prior to his appointment, he sat on the Exiting the European Union Committee from October 2016, serving until the end of the 2015-17 Parliament. While Justice Minister he worked on the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. In August 2017, in his capacity as Justice Minister, Mr Raab wrote an article for the Telegraph, outlining the Government’s commitment of ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ). In the article, Mr Raab said “Divergence in national laws is healthy in a pluralistic democratic world.” Sticking to his pro-Brexit stance, Mr Raab has persistently voted against UK membership of the EU and against rights for EU nationals already in living in the UK to remain. DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2015 www.dehavilland.co.uk 1 He began his career as an international lawyer at Linklaters and was later seconded to Liberty. In 2000 he joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office where he advised on a wide range of briefs, including UK investor protection, maritime issues, counter-proliferation and counter-terrorism, the UK overseas territories, and the international law of outer space. In 2003, Mr Raab was posted to The Hague to head up a new team, focused on bringing war criminals, including Slobodan Milosevic, Radovan Karadzic and Charles Taylor, to justice. Having left the Foreign Office to work for the then Shadow Home Secretary David Davis, he was also Mr Davis's Chief of Staff during the by-election fought on the single issue of civil liberties. Mr Raab went on to become Chief of Staff to then Shadow Justice Secretary Dominic Grieve. In addition to having articles published in the Sunday Times and International Herald Tribune, his first book 'The Assault on Liberty', which called for a new British Bill of Rights, was published in 2009. Commenting on Mr Raab’s appointment, Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said “Dominic Raab’s appointment to the Brexit Department changes nothing. The deep division at the heart of the Conservative Party has broken out in public and plunged this Government into crisis. It is now clearer than ever that Theresa May does not have the authority to negotiate for Britain or deliver a Brexit deal that protects jobs and the economy.” International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt tweeted it was a “Very welcome appointment” adding that Mr Raab was “Highly capable, across the issues, attention to detail, Leave supporter and pragmatist.” Speaking to BBC news, the Conservative chair of the pro-Brexit European Research Group, Jacob- Rees-Mogg said “Dominic is very able. But the key is – who will be doing these negotiations? Will it continue to be 10 Downing Street or will it be done by Dominic?” DeHavilland Information Services Ltd 2015 www.dehavilland.co.uk 2 .

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