THE SECRETIVE civil service is struggling to cope with Brexit as the smallest Whitehall workforce for 70 years battles a huge ‘to do’ list.

A think tank said Westminster mandarins thrashing out Britain’s EU departure were also deluged with dozens of “priority projects” such as Heathrow expansion.

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And it warned Brexit was proving more complex than expected for departments which had faced some of the biggest spending cuts.

The Home Office – charged with controlling Britain’s borders – has had its day-to-day budget reduced by a fifth, the Institute for Government said.

The IFG added that “turf wars” between departments led by Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox had wasted time and energy.

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The damning report triggered a fierce response from Ministers.

A Government spokesman insisted: “The civil service is well equipped to deliver all of this Government’s priorities – including the UK’s exit from the EU.”

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The blast came as the IFG claimed the Government had become less transparent since the Tories took over in 2010.

At the start of the Coalition, the Government departments withheld information in 25 per cent of Freedom of Information responses, but this has now risen to 40 per cent.

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Gavin Freeguard, IFG Head of Data and Transparency insisted: “Whitehall departments are continuing to function despite big reductions to staff and budgets.

“But it’s difficult to know what their priorities are and how they’re performing, which is worrying as it faces the challenge of Brexit.”