Hamish Falconer, the Member of Parliament for Lincoln, has been appointed Minister for European Relations. He will now lead negotiations with the EU ahead of the next joint summit.
Mr Falconer, who previously served as Middle East minister, was reportedly on his honeymoon in Greece when he received the call about his promotion to Andy Burnham's cabinet. He stated he had to arrange flights to return for his first cabinet meeting.
He has expressed a desire to increase the speed and ambition of deepening ties with the EU, highlighting the importance of this agenda for issues such as the cost of living and energy. Mr Falconer also noted the broader European agenda includes discussions on security, defence, and technology.
Mr Falconer is one of three MPs from the 2024 intake to reach the cabinet. His father, Charlie Falconer, previously served as Tony Blair's justice secretary.