Whitehall strikes back: Former cabinet secretaries blast Brexiteers for attacks on civil servants as anger mounts over Theresa May's EU strategy

  • Ex-Whitehall chiefs Robert Armstrong, Robin Butler and Gus O'Donnell spoke out
  • They said Tory Brexiteers should 'concentrate their fire on the organ grinder'
  • It comes after criticism of civil servant Olly Robbins for slow progress on Brexit 

Three former civil service chiefs have blasted Tory MPs for undermining the civil service by blaming Whitehall for the slow progress of Brexit talks. 

Robert Armstrong, Robin Butler and Gus O'Donnell - who served for a combined 25 years as cabinet secretary - spoke out after officials including Olly Robbins were slammed by Leave supporters for making further concessions to Brussels

Lord Armstrong, who served under Margaret Thatcher, told Brexiteers to 'concentrate their fire on the organ grinder' rather than the 'monkey'. 

O'Donnell, who held Whitehall's top job under Blair, Brown and Cameron, said 'attacking our own officials' was not the way to make a deal, The Times reported. 

Robert Armstrong
Robin Butler
Gus O'Donnell

Former cabinet secretaries (from left) Robert Armstrong, Robin Butler and Gus O'Donnell - who served for a combined 25 years as cabinet secretary - have hit back at Tory Brexiteers

And Lord Butler of Brockwell, who served under Blair and Major, said attacks against advisers were not in the national interest. 

The current acting cabinet secretary, took the unusual step of writing to the newspaper earlier this week to defend Mr Robbins. 

Mr Robbins, the leading civil servant in exit negotiations, is widely mistrusted by Brexiteers who believe he wants to keep the UK in a close orbit around the EU.

The three former cabinet secretaries said they sympathised with the 'exceptionally difficult circumstances' of Brexit talks. 

Politicians should not attack 'those who can't answer for themselves' as Whitehall officials have to remain neutral, they said.  

Some in the Leave camp believe Mr Robbins was the true architect of the Chequers plan. 

They claim it was drawn up in the Cabinet Office while David Davis and other Brexit ministers were kept in the dark.  

Theresa May's official spokesman said: 'It is one of the roles of the Cabinet Secretary to uphold public trust in the integrity and impartiality of the civil service.'

Olly Robbins (pictured), the leading civil servant in exit negotiations, is widely mistrusted by Brexiteers who believe he wants to keep the UK in a close orbit around the EU

Olly Robbins (pictured), the leading civil servant in exit negotiations, is widely mistrusted by Brexiteers who believe he wants to keep the UK in a close orbit around the EU

The PM's spokesman said Sir Mark Sedwill's letter was approved by 10 Downing Street. 

Sir Mark later posted a link to the letter on Twitter, saying he had been 'defending our Brexit team, and the values of the dedicated and impartial public service of which I'm proud to be a member'.  

It comes after Mrs May attempted to reassure business leaders about the progress being made in the Brexit talks following a tricky week.

In a 35-minute conference call with around 130 company bosses, the PM is said to have told them she knows time is running out to reach a Brexit deal, but is confident it can be done.

Stephen Martin, IoD director general, said the PM did not say if the possibility of extending the transition period was being seriously considered.

He told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: 'She accepts fully that time is running out and a deal needs to be done certainly in the autumn, as she put it.

It comes after Theresa May (pictured) attempted to reassure business leaders about the progress being made in the Brexit talks following a tricky week

It comes after Theresa May (pictured) attempted to reassure business leaders about the progress being made in the Brexit talks following a tricky week

'We need time to get ready for that. She was very clear she accepts the uncertainty that it's causing at the minute and the impact that could be having.

'But she was making it clear to everybody that she does believe a deal can be done and she is confident.

'The only sticking point is the Northern Ireland border and the backstop arrangements.'

Downing Street said Mrs May told the business leaders that 'significant progress' has been made in the talks.

'She acknowledged that there were a few significant issues that were still outstanding, but said that the very real sense she had from leaders around the table at the council was that they wanted to reach a deal as soon as possible this autumn,' a No 10 spokesman said.  

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