PRIME Minister Theresa May yesterday moved quickly to try to stave off the embarrassment caused to her government by the resignation of Sir Ivan Rogers, the UK’s ambassador to the European Union, but the row over his departure looks set to continue for some time.
Despite a government statement on Tuesday saying normal procedures would be followed for the appointment of Rogers’ replacement, Sir Tim Barrow, the former UK Ambassador to Russia and current Foreign Office Director General for Politics, will take over in the Brussels hot seat.
His appointment comes after Rogers left his job with an explosive resignation letter that accused the May Government of muddled thinking and not having objectives for negotiations. He had previously warned that Brexit negotiations could last 10 years.
Rogers’ comments provoked Ian Duncan Smith, former work and pensions secretary, into saying that the resigned ambassador could not be trusted.
“Ministers may well be right to say that they weren’t prepared perhaps to trust him in quite the way they would have done with others,” he said.
Pro-Brexit Tory MP Peter Lilley joined in, saying the resignation letter by Rogers to his staff showed “a degree of sour grapes”.
He added: “One has a feeling that many diplomats, Eurocrats, are actually in the business of trying to negotiate our way back in rather than committing to getting us out, and if Sir Ivan Rogers was in the former group, it’s good he’s gone.”
Dave Penman, leader of the FDA union for senior Whitehall staff, retorted: “What surprises me is the deafening silence from ministers who should be taking to the airwaves to defend the integrity and capability of the impartial civil service.”
He added: “If the civil service is to deliver a successful Brexit negotiation, the recipe for that success is unlikely to be to starve it of resources, lack clarity of objective and be surrounded with yes men and women who will not speak truth unto power.”
The European Commission also expressed regret about the resignation of Rogers and put paid to the stories that he was an ‘easy touch’ for the other EU leaders.
Natasha Bertaud, a spokeswoman for the EC, said: “We regret the loss of a very professional, very knowledgeable – while not always easy – interlocutor and diplomat who always loyally defended the interests of his government.”
Former Foreign Office chief civil servant Sir Simon Fraser echoed that view saying: “Anyone who knows Ivan or has worked with him will know absolutely that he was not someone who was ready to take no for an answer. He was a very persistent negotiator. He showed lots of determination. He worked incredibly hard to achieve the government’s objectives.”
The row will definitely continue into next week when, as seems likely, the Supreme Court may give its judgement on the Article 50 case which the government is set to lose.
The Labour Party at Westminster, alongside several Tories, have called for a ministerial statement on the resignation when Parliament resumes on Monday.
Barrow said: “I am honoured to be appointed as the UK’s Permanent Representative to the EU at this crucial time. I look forward to joining the strong leadership team at the Department for Exiting the EU and working with them and the talented staff at UKRep [the embassy in Brussels] to ensure we get the right outcome for the UK as we leave the EU.”
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “We are delighted that Tim Barrow is taking up this role.
“A seasoned and tough negotiator, with extensive experience of securing UK objectives in Brussels, he will bring his trademark energy and creativity to this job – working alongside other senior officials and ministers to make a success of Brexit.”
Brexit Secretary David Davis said: “UKRep will have a crucial role to play in the negotiation over the UK’s exit from the EU, and Sir Tim Barrow will add to the already extensive experience it brings.
“His knowledge of Brussels means he will be able to hit the ground running at a vital time, and steer UKRep throughout the negotiation period.
I am confident that, with his help, the UK will be able to forge a new relationship with the EU that works to the mutual benefit of both sides.”
Ex-leader of Ukip Nigel Farage was less than welcoming, tweeting: “Good to see that the government have replaced a knighted career diplomat with... a knighted career diplomat.”
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: “The new ambassador can be at his most diplomatic but without a plan from this government on where it stands on the big issues, such as Britain’s membership of the single market, then it is an impossible task.”
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