It is almost as if the majority of our commentariat and MPs have Stockholm Syndrome; they have been captured by No 10 spin and don't want to believe anything else. In fairness, most curious occurrences tend to be “cock up” rather than conspiracy, but sometimes it is just that - conspiracy. The history books are littered with devious activity by politicians and Whitehall, so it must happen. The remarks Olly Robbins, the UK's chief Brexit negotiator, is alleged to have made in a bar in Brussels raise the very question of this dichotomy between accident and design. In fact, they raise a series of questions which, in normal times would be poured over at length. But these are not normal times and the previously unconscionable is becoming acceptable behaviour by the Government. Firstly, how is it that the most senior civil servant involved in a matter of the utmost state importance has not been taken to task for discussing policy in a public bar? Who exactly is running the country: the Prime Minister or Whitehall Mandarins? The second question is whether this outpouring of information was deliberate or not, and if so on whose behalf was it leaked. The content of Robbins' alleged comments is interesting. He reportedly revealed that there would not be a “no deal” exit; the choice is essentially between a lengthy delay to the leaving date, or the PM’s deal.<doc-sep>Brexit: John Whittingdale 'disturbed' by Olly Robbins' comments top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. John Whittingdale launched a scathing attack on British civil servant Olly Robbins, criticising him for making “disturbing” comments about Brexit. The Brexiteer MP also criticised Mr Robbins for giving advice which is “against the Conservative manifesto”. An ITV reporter said to have overhead Mr Robbins talking in a bar about a “lengthy” Brexit delay. Mr Whittingdale told BBC’s Politics Live: “Having been in Brussels just over a week ago to see Mr Selmayr of the Select Committee I can vouch for the excellence of the bars in Brussels. “But having said that, I am disturbed by what Mr Robbins has been reported as having said. I rest on the fact that he is not a minister.” BBC presenter Jo Coburn interjected: “He’s the chief negotiator.” The former minister argued: “Well he’s an advisor, and at the end of the day it is ministers that take these decisions. “The Prime Minister made a statement to the House of Commons yesterday, which is very clear, that she is still seeking to get changes to the backstop.” Brexit news: John Whittingdale described Olly Robbins' comments as "disturbing" He’s an advisor, and at the end of the day it is ministers that take these decisions John Whittingdale Mr Whittingdale added later in the programme: “So far the advice that Olly Robbins appears to have been giving has been against the Conservative manifesto. “It’s against what a lot of us believe in, and indeed we understand that he was the person who produced the Chequers plan, which led to the resignation of the Secretaries of State, because they knew nothing about it.” The accusatory comments follow an ITV reporter overhearing Theresa May's chief Brexit negotiator talking in a bar about a “lengthy” Brexit delay. Angus Walker, the ITV News Correspondent who overheard the conversation, told LBC: “Olly Robbins and two of his colleagues were sitting there. My cameraman and I were the only other people in the bar. Olly Robbins was talking away about Brexit. Brexit: May and Robbins are planning to DELAY says Farage “I think if he realised I was a journalist he probably may have stopped talking. “I don’t think he recognised me at all but I certainly wasn’t using any sneaky tactics, I wasn’t hiding behind a plant pot, I was sitting fully in his vision in the bar, we were the only other two people in the bar.” Asked what he said to colleagues, Mr Walker said: “It was a wide-ranging conversation. We've reported tonight on News At Ten the fundamental point he was making was that he was telling his colleagues that in his view, the strategy would be to offer MPs a choice in March between a deal and a delay. “During the conversation, there were suggestions of that delay being quite lengthy. Brexit delay is the most likely outcome warns economist<doc-sep>Loose lips sink ships – even in the case of Brexit, when the UK will have no actual ships to sink. Theresa May’s chief Brexit negotiator Olly Robbins was reckless in the extreme to gossip about the UK government’s strategy over a late-night drink in the bar of the Sofitel Hotel in Brussels, which was overheard by the ITV journalist Angus Walker. Robbins, currently one of the most powerful people in Britain, has made many enemies among Tory Brexiteers over the past two years for allegedly being too accommodating to the EU’s demands. Now his indiscreet talk in that bar, claiming that the government will present MPs with an eve-of-deadline choice between her deal or a long delay to Brexit, will have made him new foes inside government, particularly because hours later the prime minister told the Commons Britain was leaving as planned on 29 March. And yet, what Robbins said was not a gaffe, even though the circumstances in which he said them were foolish – he spoke the truth. May’s long-running strategy has been to wield the prospect of no deal in order to get support for her Brexit plan. Yet that patently hasn’t worked, because her deal has been picked apart as the days have ticked down to 29 March. Instead, a no-deal Brexit has gone from being a negotiating device to a very real threat to the UK economy and, alarmingly, a first choice of some Brexiteers. The threat of a no deal is no longer an abstract concept for the voting lobbies of parliament or the discussion rooms of Brussels – it has become a very real drag on the economy. Carmarkers are pulling out of manufacturing deals, businesses are holding back on investing in staff and capital, causing the economy to slow down. As the British Chambers of Commerce warned on Wednesday, firms have been “hung out to dry”. What comes next, if no deal is struck by 29 March, could be a catastrophe. Senior civil servants, including Robbins, know this. The prime minister knows this. And therefore they will prevent the reality of a no-deal Brexit from happening. That is why Robbins is right to say there will be a choice between May’s deal – with whatever tweaks are made between now and the end of March – or a delay to Brexit, by way of an extension to Article 50. Otherwise Britain faces economic disaster. How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Show all 14 1 /14 How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Passports British passports that expire after 29 March 2019 will continue to be valid as UK travel documents, but will lose the power that comes with being a European Union passport – notably the right of free movement within the EU27. UK passports issued from 30 March 2019 will have the words “European Union” removed from the cover and the first page (along with the translations into Welsh and Gaelic). But they will still be burgundy. By October 2019, new British passports will have dark blue covers Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Pets You will still be able to travel to the EU with your pet after Brexit, but it could well get more complicated depending on the status that the European Union decide to apply. If the UK is given “Part 2 listed status”, there would be some extra requirements for travelling pets and owners post-Brexit. “These would require an additional visit to the vet and some additional papers to be carried but would not prevent you from enjoying your trip,” says Eurotunnel. But it adds that if the UK is given unlisted, third-country status, “owners who wish to travel with their pets from the UK to EU nations will need to discuss their specific preparations and requirements with an Official Veterinarian at least four months prior to their desired travel date AFP/Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Eurotunnel/Eurostar The Treaty of Canterbury between the UK and France governs the Channel Tunnel link and operations will continue – subject to any local disruption at Folkestone and/or Calais AFP/Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Driving Motorists, whether taking their own cars or hiring abroad, are likely to need to obtain an International Driving Permit or two; different EU countries are signed up to different treaties, so for a trip embracing Spain and France you would need both types. These are currently sold from a limited number of Post Offices, but the government intends to make them widely available. The cost is £5.50 for each. Motor insurance will no longer automatically extend to the EU. Insurers will provide on request a “Green Card”, for which an extra charge will be made PA How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Flights Even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, flights will continue to operate between the UK and European Union. However, in the event of the UK leaving with no deal, many flights are likely to be cancelled because departures would be capped at 2018 levels. As UK airlines have already announced thousands of new flights to Europe from the end of March 2019, some would have to be cancelled Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Air routes The network of flight links between Britain and eastern Europe could be affected by any reduction in the number of workers from those countries. Not only do they use the flights – so do their families and friends PA How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Flight disruption rights Current European passengers’ rights rules, known as EC261/2004, stipulate high payouts for delays and cancellations that cannot be attributed to “extraordinary circumstances”.<doc-sep>Pay based on use Get Started Purchase a Team or Enterprise subscription for per week You will be billed per month after the trial ends<doc-sep>
The clearest indication yet that the government is planning to once again break its own word to the British people and delay Brexit beyond the official March 29th date has come with the apparently overheard speech of top Brexit bureaucrat Olly Robbins, where he loudly discussed the options for Brexit in a hotel bar. British Civil Servant Oliver ‘Olly’ Robbins [pictured above, right] was caught telling fellow drinkers at a Brussels hotel bar after meetings between UK and EU leaders on Monday how Brexit would go by ITV correspondent Angus Walker, who was staying at the same hotel. The journalist euphemistically described the volume with which Robbins was talking, writing “He was speaking in such a manner that you didn’t have to listen hard to hear him”, and reported the comments that Robbins had decided British Members of Parliament could either accept Theresa May’s Brexit deal or face Brexit being delayed. Leaked Advice to PM May from Bureaucrat Olly Robbins Admits Brexit Backstop ‘A Bad Outcome’ https://t.co/F8BM0EQUNQ — Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 3, 2018 It is impossible to speculate whether the incredible power unelected civil servant Robbins wields in the Brexit process really had gone to his head enough to turn him into an old-fashioned pub-bore monopolising discussion at an expensive Brussels hotel bar. Nor can it be known at this stage if the top advisor to the PM had instead chosen a semi-public place he knew he’d be overheard in by exactly the right types of people — journalists — to break the bad news to the British public. ITV reports parts of Robbins’ conversation, when he apparently told the room: “The issue is whether Brussels is clear on the terms of extension… In the end they will probably just give us an extension… Got to make them believe that the week beginning end of March… Extension is possible but if they don’t vote for the deal then the extension is a long one…” Brexiteer Calls for May’s Civil Service Advisers to Be Fired for Betraying Britain https://t.co/US176ykuph — Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) November 18, 2018 The comments may cause alarm to Brexiteers, for whom Britain leaving the European Union on March 29th come what may has been an important constant during the Brexit negotiation process, during which the Prime Minister got from the EU her highly controversial deal. Robbins’ comments appear to confirm what has been said by several senior government ministers in recent weeks that the Prime Minister has abandoned privately her long-held mantra that “no deal is better than a bad deal” — and that she now intends to prevent the UK leaving the European Union fully at any cost. His words also directly contradicted what the Prime Minister herself told Parliament just yesterday when she said: “The talks are at a crucial stage, and we all need to hold our nerve to get the changes this house requires, and deliver Brexit on time.” Sabotage! Farage Says British Civil Service ‘Take Their Orders From Brussels… The Enemy Within’ https://t.co/rsgP2oc5jh — Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) October 24, 2018 Responding to loose-lipped Robbins, UKIP leader Gerrard Batten said Wednesday morning: “Contrary to what Mrs May says, the choice is the ‘Not Really Leaving Deal’, or we just don’t leave on March 29th. Also, the Irish backstop is a ‘bridge to the Future Relationship Agreement’ – leaving the way open for rejoining the EU a year or two later. “Mr Robbin’s blunder confirms what I have suspected since 2016 – this government has no intention of delivering a complete, unencumbered exit from the European Union. “UKIP, the authentic party of Brexit is ready to fight a European Parliament election should Article 50 be extended. Mrs May must consider whether or not she wishes to have the worst electoral defeat in history for the Tories on her record if she doesn’t deliver Brexit on March 29, 2019.” Delingpole: PM May and Her ‘Snake-Like Civil Servants’ Deliberately Sabotaged Free Trade Brexit https://t.co/crdMxOEej2 — Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) February 11, 2019 Oliver JJ Lane is the editor of Breitbart London — Follow him on Twitter and Facebook