UK government legal chief quits over planned Brexit withdrawal agreement changes

Mr Jones is the sixth top civil servant to resign from Boris Johnson's government this year

It has been widely reported this week that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to challenge parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement, which he had previously signed. Picture: Stefan Rouseau/PA Wire

The head of the UK Government Legal Department has resigned amid anger over suggestions Boris Johnson is planning to override elements of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.

Jonathan Jones’s departure was confirmed by the UK Attorney General’s Office, which declined to comment on the reason for the latest exit in a string of resignations of top civil servants.

The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that Mr Jones was quitting as the department’s permanent secretary due to a dispute with Downing Street.

British officials were said to have told the paper that he was departing over concerns the Prime Minister wanted to row back on parts of the Brexit deal relating to Northern Ireland.

A spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office said: “I can confirm Sir Jonathan has resigned but cannot comment further.”

Also quitting as Treasury solicitor, his is the sixth resignation of a senior civil servant this year amid growing tensions between officials and Downing Street as Mr Johnson and his top aide, Dominic Cummings, plan an overhaul of Whitehall.

Labour’s shadow attorney general Lord Falconer tweeted: “Jonathan Jones impressive lawyer and very decent person. Loyal civil servant.

Jonathan Jones impressive lawyer and very decent person. Loyal civil servant . If he can’t stay in the public service, there must be something very rotten about this government. Reckless, law breaking, trashing the best of the UK. https://t.co/HWiziivlTo

— Charlie Falconer (@LordCFalconer) September 8, 2020

“If he can’t stay in the public service, there must be something very rotten about this Government. Reckless, law breaking, trashing the best of the UK.”

The resignation came as the eighth round of trade deal negotiations between the UK and the EU were to get under way in London on Tuesday.

Senior EU figures were dismayed by suggestions new Brexit legislation to be introduced on Wednesday could override key elements of the Withdrawal Agreement brokered by Mr Johnson last year.

The British Prime Minister’s official spokesman insisted the “limited clarifications” were necessary to ensure the gains from the Good Friday Agreement can be preserved in the event talks fail.

But European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen warned there could be no backtracking by the UK on its previous commitments if it wanted to reach a free trade agreement.

Irish foreign affairs minister, Simon Coveney, warned that abandoning the agreement would be “a very unwise way to proceed”.

Mr Cummings has reportedly told aides a “hard rain is coming” for the Civil Service amid plans to reshape Whitehall.