The new Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, is an arch-Eurosceptic who has said he could support Britain pulling out of the 28-member bloc.
His promotion will delight Tory right-wingers who had accused William Hague of "going native" in his four years of dealings with the European Union.
Hammond is regarded as a long-shot for the Tory leadership and has been tipped for a job swap with Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne if the party wins the general election next year.
Now Hammond will play a central role in talks within the EU over the future terms of British membership. He played down suggestions he would adopt a stridently Eurosceptic approach, saying: "I don't think the way to enter a negotiation is to start issuing threats."
- Independent
