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Government rejects leaked memo's Brexit claims Government rejects leaked memo's Brexit claims
(35 minutes later)
The government says it "does not recognise" a leaked memo's claim that it has no overall plan for Brexit.The government says it "does not recognise" a leaked memo's claim that it has no overall plan for Brexit.
A spokesman said the "unsolicited document" came from an external accountancy firm and had "no authority".A spokesman said the "unsolicited document" came from an external accountancy firm and had "no authority".
Obtained by The Times, it warns Whitehall is working on 500 Brexit-related projects and could need 30,000 extra staff.Obtained by The Times, it warns Whitehall is working on 500 Brexit-related projects and could need 30,000 extra staff.
And it highlights "divisions within the cabinet" over Brexit strategy.And it highlights "divisions within the cabinet" over Brexit strategy.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said he had "no idea" where the report - which claims it will take another six months before the government decides precisely what it wants to achieve from Brexit or agrees on its priorities - had come from.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Grayling said the document was not a government memo and rejected its contents.
"My own experience is very different to that," he said, describing the Brexit project as a "team effort".
Mr Grayling said negotiations would be "complex but by no means the challenge that is set out in today's newspaper story".
He rejected the memo's estimate of an extra 30,000 civil servants, saying: "I do not know what 30,000 people would do in this process."
Prime Minister Theresa May hopes to invoke Article 50 - beginning the formal two-year process for leaving the EU - by the end of March next year.Prime Minister Theresa May hopes to invoke Article 50 - beginning the formal two-year process for leaving the EU - by the end of March next year.
'Bottom-up plan' The government said the leaked memo - entitled "Brexit Update" of 7 November - had been written by an unnamed consultant and was not a Cabinet Office document, as reported in earlier versions of this story.
The government said the leaked memo - entitled "Brexit Update" of 7 November - was written by an un-named consultant and was not a Cabinet Office document, as reported in earlier versions of this story. The prime minister's spokeswoman called it an "unsolicited document, not commissioned by the government or distributed widely across government".
The memo criticises Mrs May, who it says is "acquiring a reputation of drawing in decisions and details to settle matters herself" - an approach it describes as being "unlikely to be sustainable". She added that someone from the accountancy firm Deloitte had produced it and "the individual is not working for the Cabinet Office on this". The person had never been inside 10 Downing Street and had not engaged with officials since Theresa May had become prime minister, the spokeswoman said.
She added that the government did not recognise what was in the memo, which criticises Mrs May, who it says is "acquiring a reputation of drawing in decisions and details to settle matters herself" - an approach it describes as being "unlikely to be sustainable".
The document also identifies cabinet splits between Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Brexit Secretary David Davis and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox on one side, and Chancellor Philip Hammond and Business Secretary Greg Clark on the other.The document also identifies cabinet splits between Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Brexit Secretary David Davis and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox on one side, and Chancellor Philip Hammond and Business Secretary Greg Clark on the other.
It says: "Every department has developed a 'bottom-up' plan of what the impact of Brexit could be - and its plan to cope with the 'worst case'.It says: "Every department has developed a 'bottom-up' plan of what the impact of Brexit could be - and its plan to cope with the 'worst case'.
"Although necessary, this falls considerably short of having a 'government plan for Brexit' because it has no prioritisation and no link to the overall negotiation strategy.""Although necessary, this falls considerably short of having a 'government plan for Brexit' because it has no prioritisation and no link to the overall negotiation strategy."
The document also says big businesses could soon "point a gun at the government's head" to secure what they need to maintain jobs and investment. The memo also says big businesses could soon "point a gun at the government's head" to secure what they need to maintain jobs and investment.
It comes after Japanese car manufacturer Nissan said it had been given "support and assurances" over trading conditions once Britain leaves the EU. The leak comes after Japanese car manufacturer Nissan said it had been given "support and assurances" over trading conditions once Britain leaves the EU.
A government spokesman said: "This unsolicited document has nothing to do with the government at all. Former Conservative Chancellor Ken Clarke, a prominent supporter of the UK staying in the European Union, told BBC Radio 4's The World at One said of the memo: "I think it's probably entirely accurate. It rings very true."
"It was produced by an individual from an external accountancy firm. It has no authority and we don't recognise any of the claims it makes. We are getting on with the job of delivering Brexit and making a success of it." He added: "It's going to take a good six months to work out how to manage the damage [from Brexit]."
Labour pledge Meanwhile, shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said the government's "shambolic" approach to Brexit is failing to equip the UK economy for leaving the EU.
Meanwhile, shadow chancellor John McDonnell is due to say that the government's "shambolic" approach to Brexit is failing to equip the UK economy for leaving the EU. In a speech, he described the chancellor as isolated from cabinet colleagues and "too weak" to make Brexit a success.
In a speech later, he will say the chancellor is isolated from cabinet colleagues and "too weak" to make Brexit a success. However, Mr McDonnell said Labour would not attempt to block or delay the triggering of Article 50 in Parliament.
However, he will also say Labour will not attempt to block or delay the triggering of Article 50 in Parliament. "To do so would put Labour against the majority will of the British people and on the side of certain corporate elites, who have always had the British people at the back of the queue," he said.
"To do so would put Labour against the majority will of the British people and on the side of certain corporate elites, who have always had the British people at the back of the queue," he will say. The government is appealing against a High Court ruling that Parliament should have a say before the UK invokes Article 50. The hearing is due to begin at the Supreme Court on 5 December.
The government is appealing against a High Court ruling that Parliament should have a say before the UK invokes Article 50.
The government's appeal is due to be heard at the Supreme Court from 5 December.