Today, Lord Frost insisted that Boris Johnson was the right man to move the country forward after his shocking resignation from Cabinet.
The peer quit as Brexit minister with ‘immediate effect’, having previously agreed with the premier that he would leave his job in January.
Lord Frost raised concerns over the Government’s ‘current direction of travel’ and also feared about Covid’s ‘coercive’ measures.
As he gave full support to Johnson this morning, he stressed the fact that his decision to leave was not about leadership.
But he declined to comment on the possibility of more Ministers leaving Cabinet, should Johnson decide to increase coronavirus restriction.
After Saturday’s shocking resignation, Lord Frost insists that Boris Johnson is the “right man to move the country forward”. Pictured outside of 10 Downing Street, this morning is the Prime Minister
In the midst of a dispute over Northern Ireland’s border regulations, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was given responsibility to lead Brexit negotiations with EU.
Following a very difficult week as Prime Minister, Lord Frost’s resignation was described by Mr Johnson as a “watershed moment”.
Sky News’ Lord Frost said this morning that although they were in agreement on Brexit, Johnson and he disagree on the wider policy of Government.
He stated that he and Chris Heaton Harris had never been in disagreement about Brexit. Liz Truss said, “We have never disagreed with Brexit policy. Up to the last day, we have been absolutely on-board regarding this and I’m sure Liz Truss will do an amazing job.”
“I quit the government because I could not support some policies. This includes the Covid restrictions and Plan B. If you’re a minister, you must support collective responsibility. You also have to back decisions made by the Government. I couldn’t do that so I left.
Asked if he believed it is time for the PM to be replaced, Lord Frost said: ‘This is absolutely not about leadership, this is about policy differences.
“I’m absolutely certain that this country can have a great future with Boris Johnson as its leader if the policies are right.”
He added: ‘The departure was intended to be in the New Year and has come out earlier than we thought.
“The departure of the president is all about policies, and it’s about disagreements in those policies. And I have complete faith that the man he has chosen to lead the country forward.
Lord Frost was asked by a reporter if he thinks that more ministers might leave the Cabinet if there are more Covid curbs introduced in the coming weeks.
He replied: ‘I can’t speak for anybody else, I can only say what I think which is that I don’t support coercive policies on Covid.
“The Prime Minister must make difficult decisions, and I know he will take them seriously.