Our man in Brussels with a taste for home

THE UK’S ambassador to the European Union has still not moved permanently to Brussels despite having been in the job over half a year, it was reported last night.

Sir Tim Barrow is said to frequently spend weekends in London with his family, and also returns to Britain for meetings during the week – a decision that has reportedly “raised eyebrows” among Foreign Office civil servants.

A source claimed there was a rift between Sir Tim and the Brexit department in Whitehall.

The permanent secretary in the Department for Exiting the EU, Olly Robbins, has reportedly “cut out” Sir Tim, according to The Times.

The Foreign Office denied the reports, saying the two men worked closely together and Sir Tim spent the “vast majority of his time” in Brussels.

It also emerged that EU officials will enjoy an eighthour end-of-year party which will include 700 bottles of wine and a dinner with 26 different dishes.

Between 1,200 and 1,400 civil servants will enjoy the evening of dancing, dinner and drinks lasting until 3am at the Council of the European Union’s Justus Lipsius building in Brussels.