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Both UK PMs May and Johnson Left Civil Service Officials in Hot Water Over Brexit Policy, IfG Says

The United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January, after 47 years together, including 3.5 years post-referendum. Two prime ministers resigned over Brexit — first David Cameron, then Theresa May. The current prime minister, Boris Johnson, managed to get the Parliament to accept his withdrawal deal.
Sputnik

Theresa May and Boris Johnson both "failed to defend the civil service when MPs and commentators questioned its impartiality", independent British think tank the Institute for Government (IfG) has revealed in a report.

According to the study, then-Prime Minister Theresa May didn't protect Olly Robbins, her chief Brexit negotiator, when he became a target of political attacks by hardline Brexiteers, who accused him of "freelancing" and peddling a pro-EU line in Brussels.

"The prime minister was notably silent: she offered no support to her key adviser, who was taking personal and professional attacks as a result of her policy decisions", the report said.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson left Civil Service officials in hot water when suggesting that he would break the Benn Act to withdraw the country from the EU without a deal on 31 October 2019.

"Under the civil service code 33, civil servants cannot help ministers break the law", the report continued.

According to the study, another complaint from the officials was "excessive secrecy on Brexit" with the “over-classification” of documents.

"Secrecy caused a lot of unnecessary stress in the run-up to 29 March 2019, with far too few people having access to vital documents. The concerns were leaks – but throughout this period it was mainly the political teams in departments, not officials working on Brexit readiness or negotiations, that were responsible for leaking", the report said.

EU's Barnier 'Remains Committed to Zero-Quota, Zero-Tariff Deal for All Goods' in Talks With UK
Britain is currently going through a transition period lasting until 31 December 2020. Until then, London and Brussels are trying to negotiate further arrangements and tackle several sensitive topics, such as trade and fisheries.

The report says that the Civil Service could still be "forced to prepare for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit... and the problems of the last four years will resurface unless lessons are learnt".

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