Ex-minister Oliver Letwin says Britain has no negotiators to seal Brexit deal because they all work for EU
Tory veteran says Britain will need to poach some EU staff if we are going to get a good deal in the talks
BRITAIN will need to poach the trade negotiators it needs BACK from Brussels – David Cameron’s former Brexit Minister revealed today.
Oliver Letwin said the Government did not have a single specialist of the calibre required to strike up deals around the world.
Asked if Britain had any of its own negotiators, he said: “No, no.”
The Tory veteran – sacked by Theresa May on Thursday – explained: “We don’t have trade negotiators because the trade negotiating has been going on in the EU.
“The trade negotiators who are Brits at the moment are basically working for the EU.
“They are employed and it’s up to them obviously whether they are recruited into Whitehall.”
Mr Letwin put in charge of a unit exploring the various options for a Brexit after the bombshell Referendum vote on June 23.
Speaking last week he said he hoped to complete the mammoth task by September 9 – originally when a new Prime Minister was due to replace David Cameron.
But Mrs May has now put Tory hardman David Davis in charge of negotiating Britain’s EU exit. Mr Letwin said he had left “the beginnings of groundwork” for Mr Davis, describing him as a “jolly tough cookie”.
Former Business Secretary Sajid Javid earlier this month said he hoped to hire 300 specialist staff to work on trade.