UNITED KINGDOM
The senior Public Service official in charge of no-deal planning for the UK’s departure from the European Union (Brexit) has resigned just as the chances of crashing out of the EU appear to have increased.
Tom Shinner (pictured) was Director of Policy and Delivery Coordination at the Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU), concerned with the domestic policy implications of Brexit across Government Departments to ensure a smooth exit from the EU.
His departure comes as industry leaders are questioning whether the UK will be as prepared for a no deal in November, which the lead contender to become Prime Minister, Boris Johnson says will happen “do or die” unless the UK gets a new agreement in Brussels.
As fears in Ireland grow over the increasing likelihood of no deal, there have also been personnel losses, with two key members of the Brexit team moving on.
It is understood that Mr Shinner (33) is leaving the Public Service altogether to go into the private sector.
His departure comes after Karen Wheeler, the official in charge of “frictionless” Brexit border planning, including emergency plans for Dover and Northern Ireland in the event of no deal, left her post in Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
A former aide to the ex-Brexit Secretary, David Davis once said Mr Shinner was so pivotal to no-deal planning that if he left Brexit would not happen.
DExEU said Mr Shinner’s departure would not affect the “high standards” of delivery at the Department as no-deal planning had been so advanced ahead of 29 March, the original Brexit Day, with work continuing apace.
“Careful succession planning has been put in place to ensure the Department maintains its high standards of delivery,” DExEU said.
London, 28 June 2019
