Theresa May’s top EU advisor Olly Robbins stripped Brexit Ministry’s of top 50 negotiating staff
The Downing Street mandarin mounted the raid on the Department for Exiting the European Union after the resignation of David Davis
THERESA May’s top EU advisor has stripped the Brexit Ministry of its 50 best negotiating staff in a new Whitehall power grab.
Downing Street mandarin Olly Robbins mounted the raid after David Davis resigned as the DexEU boss last week.
The talks experts are moving into the Cabinet Office under Mr Robbins’ direct command, boosting his powerbase.
The move – revealed by The Sun today - severely reduces new Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab’s ability to set a course for the deliberations with Brussels.
It has also deepened Leavers’ fears of an ongoing civil service coup after Mr Davis lost a power struggle with Mr Robbins for the PM’s ear on Brexit and was cut out of Brexit decision making.
In a quid pro quo deal with Mr Raab to soften the blow, No10 has agreed to keep him fully consulted on negotiation decision making.
Unlike his predecessor, the new Brexit Secretary will be copied in on all advice that Mr Robbins sends the PM.
Mr Raab will also be invited to every meeting Mr Robbins holds with the PM, to ensure there is full ministerial oversight of his work.
Confirming the staff raid, a Whitehall source said: “This is a sensible backroom shift that reflects the surge in negotiating intensity we have been seeking and allows us to achieve the best deal.
Dom will be an insider supporting the PM, privy to all advice and ensuring there is ministerial accountability. There will be no more policies by surprise”.
But critics dubbed the concessions to Mr Raab a wheeze that will soon be ignored.
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A government insider added: “Olly has managed to pull off another landgrab.
“It’s a significant weakening of Dom’s new department and another bureaucratic win for Olly. DexEU officials are beyond furious.”
A DexEU source said the 50 negotiating staff were only on loan to Mr Robbins, and would return to the Brexit ministry in the Autumn when a deal is finally done on Britain's withdrawal from the EU.