The top official at Britain's Brexit ministry quit on Monday to start working directly for Prime Minister Theresa May, in what opposition parties branded as "chaos" at a sensitive time in the negotiations.
Oliver Robbins, the permanent secretary at the Department for Exiting the European Union, will now be May's EU adviser, the ministry said in a statement.
It said the move would "strengthen cross-government coordination of the next phase of negotiations" in Brussels, which is due to start next week.
Robbins will continue to head the negotiating team.
A source at the ministry told AFP it was a "planned move" and denied a report in the London Evening Standard newspaper that there had been a falling out between Robbins and Brexit Secretary David Davis.
But Keir Starmer, Brexit spokesman for the main opposition Labour Party, said: "Moving key individuals at this critical time adds a whole new dimension to the government's chaotic approach to Brexit."
"Deep divisions in the cabinet and a complete lack of leadership are putting the national interest at risk," he said.
Vince Cable, leader of the pro-EU Liberal Democrats, said: "This is a sign of the chaos and division at the heart of this government".
An official quoted in The Evening Standard said: "Olly has always worried the Brexiteers as to where he is. There were comments going around that he was trying to slow things down."
The top official at Britain’s Brexit ministry quit on Monday to start working directly for Prime Minister Theresa May, in what opposition parties branded as “chaos” at a sensitive time in the negotiations.
Oliver Robbins, the permanent secretary at the Department for Exiting the European Union, will now be May’s EU adviser, the ministry said in a statement.
It said the move would “strengthen cross-government coordination of the next phase of negotiations” in Brussels, which is due to start next week.
Robbins will continue to head the negotiating team.
A source at the ministry told AFP it was a “planned move” and denied a report in the London Evening Standard newspaper that there had been a falling out between Robbins and Brexit Secretary David Davis.
But Keir Starmer, Brexit spokesman for the main opposition Labour Party, said: “Moving key individuals at this critical time adds a whole new dimension to the government’s chaotic approach to Brexit.”
“Deep divisions in the cabinet and a complete lack of leadership are putting the national interest at risk,” he said.
Vince Cable, leader of the pro-EU Liberal Democrats, said: “This is a sign of the chaos and division at the heart of this government”.
An official quoted in The Evening Standard said: “Olly has always worried the Brexiteers as to where he is. There were comments going around that he was trying to slow things down.”
