David Davis tried to have Olly Robbins SACKED, according to reports
BREXIT Secretary David Davis has tried to have controversial top civil servant Olly Robbins sacked in a row over EU negotiating policy, according to reports.
Mr Robbins, who was the senior civil servant in the Brexit department but is now based in Downing Street, has become a target for Leave supporters since he was identified as Theresa May’s main policy adviser.
The Whitehall mandarin has been described as a Remainer trying to undermine Brexit and get the UK to leave the EU in name only.
The Sunday Times quoted a “close friend” of Mr Davis as saying he had compared Mr Robbins to Margaret Thatcher’s controversial economic adviser Sir Alan Walters, who alienated her cabinet.
Government chief whip Julian Smith appeared to defend Mr Robbins, tweeting it was “deeply unfair” to criticise individual officials and the Civil Service was providing “world class” Brexit advice.
His comments were retweeted by Mrs May’s chief of staff Gavin Barwell, in what will be seen as a No 10 show of support.
Customs partnership supporters say it is the best way to avoid a return to border checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic. But the “max fac” solution – dubbed the “fantasy island unicorn model” by critics – has been dismissed by the EU side as completely unworkable.
Last night, pro-Brexit campaign group Leave Means Leave, which represents more than 50 Tory parliamentarians, demanded Mr Robbins’ removal.
The group’s co-chairman Richard Tice said: “These totally unacceptable proposals look like the work of Olly Robbins and other pro-EU civil servants.”
Brexit-backing Tory MPs led by Jacob Rees-Mogg were understood to have told the Prime Minister Mr Robbins must go.
But the civil servant is trusted by Mrs May and has powerful Cabinet supporters in Chancellor Philip Hammond and Home Secretary Amber Rudd.