Theresa May’s new senior Cabinet ministers are staying away from major EU meetings in Brussels at the start of this week despite a pledge to intensify Brexit negotiations, as turmoil continues to rage at the top of government.
UK diplomats confirmed that Dominic Raab, Britain’s new chief Brexit negotiator, would not be attending the start of his first round of Brexit negotiations on Monday and will be leaving early discussions to civil servants.
His absence from the beginning of the negotiating round – mirroring his predecessor’s approach – comes despite both sides saying they are prepared to “intensify” talks as the October deadline for a deal looms.
Additionally, neither the new foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, nor any of his deputy ministers, will be attending Monday’s meeting of the EU’s foreign affairs council. The regular meeting is an opportunity for the 28 ministers to discuss foreign policy issues and it is the first time it is being held since Mr Hunt’s appointment.
Instead of attending the talks Mr Raab is expected to speak on Monday evening at the summer drinks of the right-wing free market think-tank, FREER. He is also expected to be present in Westminster for a vote on the customs bill. Mr Raab is a staunch Thatcherite and has previously called for the abolition of EU-mandated employment rights.
Labour said Mr Raab needed to "rethink his priorities". Officials said it was not unusual for ministers to skip Council meetings, and said Mr Raab would attend talks later in the week, on Thursday.
The Prime Minister had hoped to settle Brexit disagreement in her own Cabinet with the Chequers plan, struck a week ago after an away-day meeting at her country residence.
Instead, the deal sparked a series of resignations, including her chief Brexit negotiator David Davis, more than half the ministers at the Department for Exiting the EU, and her foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.
After an intermission for a diplomatic visit by Donald Trump, the turmoil at the top of the Conservative party resumed on Monday, with former education secretary Justine Greening calling for a second EU referendum on the final deal.
EU national ministers are expected to formally review the Prime Minister’s Chequers plan at a meeting in Brussels on Friday. The proposal is likely to face opposition on the grounds that it asks the EU to delegate European customs enforcement to the UK, does not include developed plans for a Northern Ireland backstop, and “cherry-picks” only parts of the single market.
The plan is also facing opposition in Westminster from Tory Brexiteers who claim it is too soft and would see the UK remain a “vassal” of the European Union after it has left the bloc.
Jenny Chapman, Labour’s Shadow Brexit Minister, said: “Over the past week the Government’s Brexit strategy has descended into utter chaos. But rather than trying to repair the damage and negotiate with Brussels, the new Brexit Secretary has decided to take the evening off and attend a summer drinks reception. This is simply not good enough. Dominic Raab needs to rethink his priorities.”
