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Theresa May faces calls to sack her top Brexit official over claims he’s trying to obstruct departure from EU

David Davis has reportedly demanded the sacking of senior civil servant Oliver Robbins

THERESA May today faces calls to sack her top Brexit aide over claims he keeps rolling over to the EU.

David Davis has reportedly warned the PM she could be brought down by Oliver Robbins, the civil servant in charge of negotiating Brexit.

 There are calls to sack senior civil servant Oliver Robbins
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There are calls to sack senior civil servant Oliver Robbins

But Mrs May has hit back - with her allies going public in support of Mr Robbins.

Mr Davis spoke to the PM's chief of staff Gavin Barwell last week and warned that the civil servant has seized too much control over the Brexit process, .

An ally of the Brexit Secretary said: "When Prime Ministers start following the advice of unelected advisers rather than her ministers, trouble follows."

Pro-Brexit pressure group Leave Means Leave added: "At each stage, Robbins has presided over a bungled negotiating position on behalf of the UK, giving leverage to the EU and acquiescing to their every whim in a way no business person would do."

 David Davis has reportedly asked Theresa May to act
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David Davis has reportedly asked Theresa May to actCredit: Reuters

After the campaign against Mr Robbins came to light, Chief Whip Julian Smith wrote on Twitter: "@UKCivilService is helping to deliver Brexit.

"The quality of support/advice is world class. Attacking ind[ependent] civil servants is deeply unfair."

His tweet was then shared by Mr Barwell in a show of support for Mr Robbins from the heart of Number 10.

In other Brexit developments, leaked papers suggested Amber Rudd wants European citizens to get fast-track access to Britain even after we leave the EU.

The Home Secretary's plan is likely to raise concerns that the Government WON'T scrap freedom of movement completely after Brexit.

But in a boost for Mrs May, her pro-Remain former deputy called on Tory MPs to rally round the PM's Brexit plans.

Damian Green, who was sacked in December, warned that if backbenchers defy Mrs May in Parliament they risk letting Jeremy Corbyn into power.

He  that undermining the PM "would not just wreck our economy, but damage our whole democracy".

Around a dozen pro-EU Tories have been planning to vote to keep Britain in the customs union after Brexit.


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