BORIS Johnson has announced the appointment of an unelected peer to a key position in his Cabinet.

Former Brexit negotiator Lord David Frost, who has never been elected to high office, is the new minister for Brexit and will "lead the UK's institutional and strategic relationship with the EU".

It comes just 10 months after the Tory leader scrapped the role of Brexit Secretary having deemed the position surplus to requirements.

Frost was initially appointed as a special adviser by Downing Street on a £125,000 salary. He was awarded a peerage last summer.

In his new role, the peer will "help drive through changes to maximise the opportunities of Brexit", Downing Street said.

Frost will become a minister of state in the Cabinet Office from March 1.

He is expected to chair the UK-EU joint committee on the Withdrawal Agreement, a role that so far has been undertaken by Michael Gove.

The Prime Minister earlier ditched plans to make his ally Frost the National Security Adviser.

Next month, the unelected peer will be a Cabinet minister expected to co-ordinate relations with the EU and its 27 member states and work on post-Brexit regulatory changes.

Frost tweeted: "I am hugely honoured to have been appointed Minister to take forward our relationship with the EU after Brexit.

"In doing so I stand on the shoulders of giants & particularly those of @michaelgove who did an extraordinary job for this country in talks with EU over the past year."

He is one of only two unelected ministers in the full Cabinet – the other is Baroness Evans, Leader of the House of Lords.

It means there are now 23 full Cabinet ministers including the Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and party chairwoman.

A statement from No 10 said: "The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Lord Frost CMG as a minister of state in the Cabinet Office.

"Lord Frost will be a full member of Cabinet. His appointment will take effect from March 1 2021."

When previously reversing the decision to appoint Lord Frost security adviser, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said he had been appointed representative for Brexit and International Policy and head of a new International Policy Unit in No 10.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "He will lead the UK's institutional and strategic relationship with the EU and he will help drive through changes to maximise the opportunities that flow from the deal we reached with the EU."