Top official moves from UK’s Brexit ministry to prime minister’s office

Prime Minister Theresa May has appointed Britain’s top official at its Brexit ministry as her EU adviser to “strengthen cross government coordination of the next phase of talks with the European Union,” a government spokesperson said on Monday.

May, whose position was weakened after losing her governing Conservative Party’s majority at a June election, has been criticized for failing to give clear instructions to her negotiating team in the talks.

Oliver Robbins will be replaced as permanent secretary of the Brexit ministry by his second-incommand there, Philip Rycroft.

“In order to strengthen cross Government coordination of the next phase of negotiations with the European Union, the Prime Minister has appointed Robbins as her EU Adviser in the Cabinet Office, in addition to his role as EU Sherpa,” the spokesman said in a statement.

“[Robbins] will continue to lead the official-side UK team in the negotiations, working closely with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, and coordinate relations with the Commission and Member States.”

Robbins, considered one of the key figures at the heart of Britain’s plans for leaving the bloc, had been in the job at the Brexit ministry since shortly after it was set up following the EU referendum in June 2016.