Steve Barclay has been appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Cabinet Office minister, No 10 said.

The NE Cambs MP had most recently been Chief Secretary to the Treasury and before that Brexit Secretary.

His appointment was made today by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster administers the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster, and is a member of the Cabinet.

After the Prime Minister, he is the most senior minister in the Cabinet Office.

Responsibilities include:

* oversight of all Cabinet Office policy and appointments

* oversight of constitutional policy and enhancement, defending democracy and electoral law

* devolution issues and strengthening the Union

* leading public services recovery from COVID-19

* leading cross-government and public sector transformation and efficiency

* oversight of cross-government work on veterans’ issues

* oversight of Cabinet Office responsibilities on National Security and resilience, and the Civil Contingencies Secretariat, including COVID-19

* supporting the coordination of the cross-government and the devolution aspects of the response to COVID-19

Most recently

He was previously Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 13 February 2020 to 15 September 2021 and Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union from 16 November 2018 to 31 January 2020 and Minister of State for the Department of Health and Social Care from January to November 2018. Steve was also Economic Secretary to the Treasury from June 2017 to January 2018.

He served as a Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) from July 2016 to June 2017. He was elected Conservative MP for North East Cambridgeshire in May 2010.

Education
Steve was educated at King Edward VII School in Lytham St. Annes Lancashire before reading history at Peterhouse, Cambridge. He later studied law at the College of Law, Chester.

Political career
From 2010 to 2014 Steve served on the Public Accounts Committee which scrutinises government spending. Steve served as Assistant Government Whip from May 2015 until July 2016.

Career outside politics
Steve qualified as a solicitor in 1998. He worked as an insurance company lawyer for Axa Insurance, as a regulator for the Financial Services Authority, and as Director of Regulatory Affairs and then Head of Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions at Barclays Retail Bank.

Personal life
Steve is married and has 2 children.