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EU referendum: Jeremy Heywood faces civil servant guidance grilling EU referendum: Jeremy Heywood faces civil servant guidance grilling
(about 7 hours later)
Britain's top civil servant has been told to explain why cabinet ministers opposing EU membership are being denied access to government papers on Europe. The UK's top civil servant is to be questioned over why cabinet ministers opposing EU membership are being denied access to government papers on Europe.
Last week, Sir Jeremy Heywood issued guidance that the civil service would support the government to make the case for the UK to remain in a reformed EU. Sir Jeremy Heywood last week issued guidance that the civil service would support the government to make the case for the UK to remain in a reformed EU.
But it said ministers opposing the government should not be given briefing or speech material on the subject.But it said ministers opposing the government should not be given briefing or speech material on the subject.
Sir Jeremy has been called to explain this position to a committee of MPs. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said it "can't possibly happen".
The cabinet secretary will appear before the cross-party Public Administration Committee on Tuesday. Sir Jeremy has been called to explain this position to the cross-party Public Administration Committee of MPs on Tuesday.
The UK's referendum on whether to remain in or leave the EU will be held on 23 June
The government's official policy is that Britain should remain in the EU - and civil servants are duty-bound to support government policies.The government's official policy is that Britain should remain in the EU - and civil servants are duty-bound to support government policies.
Sir Jeremy's guidance says ministers opposing the official government line should not be given access to government papers on the referendum or Prime Minister David Cameron's EU renegotiations - apart from ones they had already seen.Sir Jeremy's guidance says ministers opposing the official government line should not be given access to government papers on the referendum or Prime Minister David Cameron's EU renegotiations - apart from ones they had already seen.
It has prompted claims from leave campaigners that the establishment is lined up against them.It has prompted claims from leave campaigners that the establishment is lined up against them.
The public administration committee, chaired by Bernard Jenkin, who wants to leave the EU, will question whether the guidance could interfere with the business of government.The public administration committee, chaired by Bernard Jenkin, who wants to leave the EU, will question whether the guidance could interfere with the business of government.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is one of the five cabinet ministers campaigning for Britain to leave the EU, along with Commons Leader Chris Grayling, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers and Justice Secretary Michael Gove.Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is one of the five cabinet ministers campaigning for Britain to leave the EU, along with Commons Leader Chris Grayling, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers and Justice Secretary Michael Gove.
Mr Duncan Smith told the Sunday Telegraph that constitutionally, ministers are in charge of their departments and should continue to receive official documents. Mr Duncan Smith told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that in his view Sir Jeremy's guidance could not be adhered to, as he needed to know what was going on in his department.
"I must have the right to continue to look at this," he said. "We are responsible for the department. For example, I will have to work on these proposals that came back from the recent negotiations [in Brussels]. If we vote to remain in, we [the Department of Work and Pensions] will have to deliver that," he added.
In the Sunday Telegraph he also said that constitutionally, ministers should continue to receive official documents.
Responding to suggestions he could be replaced in a cabinet reshuffle after the referendum, Mr Duncan Smith added: "If my face no longer fits, my face no longer fits.Responding to suggestions he could be replaced in a cabinet reshuffle after the referendum, Mr Duncan Smith added: "If my face no longer fits, my face no longer fits.
"My big passion is welfare reform. But Europe goes over everything.""My big passion is welfare reform. But Europe goes over everything."
He cited concerns about the euro, border controls and migration among his reasons for wanting to leave.He cited concerns about the euro, border controls and migration among his reasons for wanting to leave.
"What the hell's happening with the euro? Do we really know enough about who may eventually be coming through the open borders?
"I have no idea what it looks like if we stay. The difference is, if we stay, we are bound to this ship that is heading in an unknown direction and sailing perilously close to the rocks.""I have no idea what it looks like if we stay. The difference is, if we stay, we are bound to this ship that is heading in an unknown direction and sailing perilously close to the rocks."
In the same newspaper, however, the prime minister warned of the risks of leaving the EU.In the same newspaper, however, the prime minister warned of the risks of leaving the EU.
He said those campaigning to leave had been "extremely vague".He said those campaigning to leave had been "extremely vague".
"It's simply not good enough to assert everything will be all right when jobs and our country's future are at stake."It's simply not good enough to assert everything will be all right when jobs and our country's future are at stake.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the only certainty of exit is uncertainty; that leaving Europe is fraught with risk.""There is no doubt in my mind that the only certainty of exit is uncertainty; that leaving Europe is fraught with risk."
The UK's referendum on whether to remain in or leave the EU will be held on 23 June.