EU deputy Brexit negotiator Sabine Weyand promoted to senior trade job

Weyand's career move marks departure of one of the biggest names from EU's 'taskforce 50'

The European Union's deputy Brexit negotiator Sabine Weyand has been promoted to a senior trade job, giving her a crucial role in any future talks with the UK.

Weyand will become director-general of the European commission's trade department from 1 June. She is the most senior player to leave the EU's "taskforce 50", a squad of senior officials created to negotiate the UK's exit from the bloc.