The top government official in charge of no-deal Brexit planning has quit just as the chances of crashing out of the EU appear to have increased. As fears in Ireland grow over the increasing likelihood of no deal, there have also been personnel losses with two key members of the Brexit team moving on. It is understood that Shinner is leaving the civil service altogether to go into the private sector. A former aide to the ex-Brexit secretary David Davis once said Shinner was so pivotal to no-deal planning that if he left his job Brexit would not happen. DExEU said Shinner’s departure would not affect the “high standards” of delivery at the department as no-deal planning had been so advanced ahead of 29 March, the original Brexit Day, with work continuing apace.

Source: The Guardian June 27, 2019 13:45 UTC