UNITED KINGDOM
The leader of the United Kingdom’s Public Service team negotiating the country’s exit from the European Union (Brexit) has survived sustained pressure from Brexit-supporting politicians to have him replaced.
Members of Parliament in the hard-line European Research Group (ERG) said they had been assured that Olly Robbins (pictured) would be replaced in favour of the Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser at the Department for International Trade, Crawford Falconer.
However, following the parliamentary vote in which MPs demanded that the negotiated agreement on the status of Northern Ireland be replaced with “alternative arrangements”, Prime Minister, Theresa May’s spokesperson denied there would be changes to the Public Service team.
“In terms of the Civil Service side, the team, which is led by Ollie Robbins, remains the same,” the spokesperson said.
“There has been a misunderstanding over the issue.”
Speaking before the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee, Deputy Chair of the ERG, Steve Baker said Mr Falconer had been cut out of negotiations “and that is a stupid mistake”.
Chair of the ERG, Jacob Rees Mogg said it was the job of officials to implement policy, not to obstruct, and any Public Servant was bound to respect this.
“The European Research Group understood that Crawford Falconer would be involved in future negotiations and it would be surprising if this did not happen,” Mr Rees Mogg said.
A New Zealander, Mr Falconer had expressed frustration about being excluded from Brexit negotiations. Reports state that his attempts at securing a role as part of the UK team had been blocked by Mr Robbins.
Further reports claim Mr Robbins had raised doubts about securing “alternative arrangements” on Northern Ireland.
Former Minister and anti-Brexit campaigner, Lord Adonis said the Government had committed a fatal mistake of briefing against its own Brexit negotiator, Olly Robbins and discussing his replacement with the ERG.
“This is leading to a deepening crisis in Whitehall, which has been leaderless since the tragic death of [former Public Service head] Sir Jeremy Heywood,” Lord Adonis said.
London, 6 February, 2019
