By Ben Kerrigan
Civil servant, Oliver Robbins, is to quit his role as Head of the Department for Exiting the European Union (Dexeu) . He will move to a new role in 10 Downing Street after just over a year in the job,
Oliver Robbins was initially Theresa May’s top Brexit advisor, but is now set to take up a new “co-ordinating” role in Downing Street. Robbin’s new appointment comes amid a series of past conflicts with David Davis, the minister in charge of Brexit.
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Oliver Robbins’s replacement will allow him to focus ore effectively on Brexit negotiations, according to the government, who consider him a loyal ally of the prime minister.
Robbins will continue to be the most senior official on the UK negotiating team, while Philip Rycroft, his former deputy, will take over as permanent secretary at DExEU.
ADJUSTMENTS
Mr Robbins’ departure from the department is the latest chapter in a series of disturbing adjustments among civil service staff dealing with Brexit at the very highest level. Early this year, Sir Tim Barrow was brought in to replace Sir Ivan Rogers as the UK’s ambassador to the EU, after Sir Ivan warning that government ministers had become unwilling to listen to or accept advice and guidance from civil servants.
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The areas that have sparked internal disputes between ministers and Brexit advisers have related to disagreements over the process Brexit should take, and information given to the media. Only yesterday, there was also said to be a new disagreement between the official line taken by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Uk prime minister, Theresa May.
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