May denies Brexit ‘shambles’ as official is moved

Theresa May has denied the UK’s Brexit approach has been a shambles after the Whitehall official leading Britain’s negotiating team was moved into a role as the Prime Minister’s EU adviser.

Oliver Robbins has been shifted from Brexit Secretary David Davis’s department to the advisory position in the Cabinet Office but will “continue to lead the official-side UK team” in negotiations.

However, it follows reports of personal differences between Mr Robbins and Mr Davis over the negotiations in Brussels.

Shadow Brexit secretary Starmer questioned the wisdom of moving key individuals at a critical time in the process and claimed it “adds a whole new dimension to government’s chaotic approach to Brexit”.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable labelled the change as a “sign of the chaos and division” within the minority administration.

Speaking during a trade visit to Canada, Mrs May was asked if the change showed the Brexit negotiating structure had been a “bit of a shambles”. The PM replied: “No, not at all. Keir “What it is a sign of is that the negotiations are getting into a more detailed and more intense phase.

“As a result of that I think it’s right that Olly Robbins concentrates on that and obviously a different structure will be put in place in terms of the running of the management of the Department for Exiting the European Union and the permanent secretaryship there.”

Mr Robbins worked closely with Mrs May as second permanent secretary at the Home Office for a year during her tenure as home secretary.

Philip Rycroft has been appointed as Mr Robbins’ replacement as permanent secretary at Mr Davis’s department.