'They're flying without cover!' Former bureaucrat TEARS INTO Government for Brexit delay
THE BREXIT negotiators have wasted time to establish a strong strategy to counter the European Union team's preparedness, former government lawyer Sir Paul Jenkins said.
Ex UK bureaucrat: Government 'flying without cover' on Brexit
Sir Paul said the British Brexit team needs to "catch up" with its European counterparts to reach a successful conclusion of talks.
He said: "The politics need to catch up! At the moment I have a strong sense that they’re flying without very much cover.
"What I hope as a proud former bureaucrat is that as soon as the Government say ‘this is where we want to go and this is what we’ve done’ the EU will say ‘here’s a plan we made earlier.’"
Sir Paul, who once was the most senior legal advisor in the UK, said Brussels had on its side hundreds of experts on the most minute aspects of the law and would use it during the negotiations with Britain.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Sir Paul added: "Every single topic across the whole of the law on the European Union, on the European regulations, has someone who is an expert.
"My sense is that they have made extremely good use of the time between the referendum and whenever the Government, the Cabinet finally decide what sort of Brexit they want, to do all the detailed work behind the scenes."
The sixth round of Brexit talks between Brexit Secretary David Davis and his European counterpart Michel Barnier concluded with an ultimatum urging the UK to settle its position on key issues.
Mr Barnier said trade talks – a key component to establish the future relationship between Brexit Britain and the EU – could not begin until the UK settled the Brexit bill, and reached an agreement on citizens' rights and the Irish border.
UK business executive: It is CERTAIN where Brexit is heading
He said: "Only sufficient progress – that is to say sincere and real progress – on the three main key issues of these negotiations will enable the triggering of the second phase of our negotiations."
But Mr Davis hit back, saying it was now time for Brussels to show "flexibility, creativity and imagination" to strike a mutually beneficial agreement.
The British Government further struck back at the EU's "intimidation" as Prime Minister Theresa May rallied MPs from "all sides" to "come together and negotiate the best possible Brexit deal."
"Let me be clear Brexit is happening on Friday, March 29 2019, at 11pm."