Britain’s EU envoy Ivan Rogers abruptly resigns just months before formal Brexit talks begin

Britain’s ambassador to the European Union, who sometimes clashed with London over its approach to Europe, has abruptly resigned less than three months before Prime Minister Theresa May is due to trigger formal Brexit negotiations.

Ivan Rogers, Britain’s envoy to the EU, told staff on Tuesday that he would step down from his post early but did not explain his reasons for resigning, said the Financial Times, which was first to report the resignation.

Rogers said however, that London lacked experienced negotiators and urged the team on the ground in Brussels to challenge muddled thinking.

“I hope you will continue to challenge ill-founded arguments and muddled thinking and that you will never be afraid to speak the truth to those in power,” Rogers said in the letter, which was published in full by the BBC.

Rogers also suggested that even his former team, which will play a key role in the complex negotiations with the 27 other EU members, was in the dark about what the government wanted.

“We do not yet know what the government will set as negotiating objectives for the UK’s relationship with the EU after exit,” Rogers wrote.