Mandarin to retire early on Brexit day

THE TOP civil servant at the Department for Exiting the EU is to retire early at the end of March.

Philip Rycroft was appointed permanent secretary in 2017 after predecessor Olly Robbins moved to 10 Downing Street to be the Prime Minister’s Europe adviser and chief Brexit negotiator.

Mr Rycroft, who joined DExEU as second permanent secretary in 2016 shortly after the EU referendum, will be replaced at the department by Clare Moriarty, currently top civil servant at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Theresa May’s official spokesman said the Prime Minister “thanks Philip Rycroft for all his service”.

The 57-year-old mandarin previously served as head of the Cabinet Office UK governance group from 2015-16 and was director general of deputy prime minister Nick Clegg’s office from 2012-15.

Announcing his departure, Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill said he had demonstrated “exceptional leadership” at DExEU. He said that Ms Moriarty has “a deep understanding of the practical and policy challenges and opportunities of Brexit”.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said: “I would like to thank Philip Rycroft for his excellent leadership of the department, initially as second permanent secretary and subsequently as head of the department since October 2017.”

Tamara Finkelstein is to serve as interim permanent secretary at Defra.