May takes control of Brexit talks
Bloomberg News
LONDON — Prime Minister Theresa May is taking control over the U.K.’s Brexit negotiations and will direct strategy from her own office, in a move that reinforces her drive to keep close to the European Union. The pound rose.
Ms. May shook up her team Tuesday, sidelining the troublesome ministry that she created two years ago to lead the British withdrawal from the EU. It follows months of tensions between the former Brexit Secretary David Davis, who led the department until he quit this month, and Ms. May’s chief Europe adviser Oliver Robbins, who she increasingly turned to for advice.
The pro-Brexit Mr. Davis wanted a clean break from the EU and resigned in protest at Ms. May’s plan to keep EU rules for trade in goods. for trade in manufactured Mr. Robbins, meanwhile, is goods and agri-food. now more powerful than But since then, she’s suffered ever. While he rarely speaks a political crisis as proin public, he holds sway over Brexit ministers Boris policybehind the scenes. The Johnson and Mr. Davis resigned consolidation of his influence in protest, accusing saw sterling climb 0.3 her of failing to deliver the percent and angered Brexit decisive split from the bloc campaigners in Ms. May’s that voters want. ruling Tory party. While Parliament — and
The Cabinet Office, whichMs. May’s Tory party — are Ms. May oversees and divided over the merits of where Mr. Robbins works, her plan, the EU is likely to “will have overall responsibility welcome the latest shuffle of for the preparation her team, as negotiators in and conduct of the negotiations,” Brussels know Mr. Robbins she said. well and regard him as someone
Ms. May’s move came at athey can work with. critical time in the negotiations. Mr. Davis’ replacement as With less than three Brexit Secretary, Dominic months left to finalize the Raab, played down the significance U.K.’s divorce terms and of Ms. May’s announcement. map out the future trade Appearing agreement, progress has all alongside Mr. Robbins in but stalled as EU officials front of a panel of lawmakers waited for the British side to Tuesday, Mr. Raab insisted spell out its detailed position. the pair were working hard
The premier set out her to make sure there’s “one blueprint for a new freetrade team, one chain of command” area with the EU on in Brexit talks, with July 12, keeping its regulations Ms.May in charge at the top.