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| Government memo demanding end to Brexit leaks is leaked | Government memo demanding end to Brexit leaks is leaked |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Theresa May has called for urgent action to prevent ministers and government officials from leaking information about the Brexit process to journalists. | Theresa May has called for urgent action to prevent ministers and government officials from leaking information about the Brexit process to journalists. |
| The prime minister’s demand resulted in a warning memo from the cabinet secretary that, ironically, was itself passed on to a national newspaper within days. | The prime minister’s demand resulted in a warning memo from the cabinet secretary that, ironically, was itself passed on to a national newspaper within days. |
| Sir Jeremy Heywood wrote to permanent secretaries in government departments to say that a “spate of corrosive leaks” must end. | Sir Jeremy Heywood wrote to permanent secretaries in government departments to say that a “spate of corrosive leaks” must end. |
| He said there was a need for a “cultural change”, and set out plans to review areas vulnerable to leaks and to place security teams in charge of ramped-up inquiries into who was passing information on. | |
| “Anyone found to have leaked sensitive information will be dismissed, even where there is no compromise of national security,” he said. | “Anyone found to have leaked sensitive information will be dismissed, even where there is no compromise of national security,” he said. |
| Heywood also wrote: “The prime minister has directed that we urgently tighten security processes and improve our response to leaks. | Heywood also wrote: “The prime minister has directed that we urgently tighten security processes and improve our response to leaks. |
| “She has instructed that we begin this work immediately and expects to see rapid and visible improvement. | “She has instructed that we begin this work immediately and expects to see rapid and visible improvement. |
| “Ministers, permanent secretaries and senior officials set the tone in an organisation and no amount of process will make up for an environment where leaks are accepted. | “Ministers, permanent secretaries and senior officials set the tone in an organisation and no amount of process will make up for an environment where leaks are accepted. |
| “If leaders think they are the necessary cost of open ways of working they are mistaken.” | “If leaders think they are the necessary cost of open ways of working they are mistaken.” |
| Heywood also revealed that he had strengthened control for “sensitive cabinet committee papers” that were used by senior members of May’s team to discuss Brexit plans so far. | Heywood also revealed that he had strengthened control for “sensitive cabinet committee papers” that were used by senior members of May’s team to discuss Brexit plans so far. |
| In October, the Guardian revealed that one of the papers Heywood referred to had warned cabinet ministers of a 4.5% drop in GDP by 2030 if Britain withdrew from the customs union. | In October, the Guardian revealed that one of the papers Heywood referred to had warned cabinet ministers of a 4.5% drop in GDP by 2030 if Britain withdrew from the customs union. |
| It followed a leak that another of the reports had included a controversial figure used during the referendum that said hard Brexit could cost £66bn a year, and that the government was looking at a migration system under which people could only come to Britain for a specific job. | It followed a leak that another of the reports had included a controversial figure used during the referendum that said hard Brexit could cost £66bn a year, and that the government was looking at a migration system under which people could only come to Britain for a specific job. |
| Downing Street would not comment on the leak, but did not deny that it was genuine. | Downing Street would not comment on the leak, but did not deny that it was genuine. |
| The former Labour cabinet minister Ed Balls suggested that the document reminded him of his time working under Gordon Brown’s premiership. | The former Labour cabinet minister Ed Balls suggested that the document reminded him of his time working under Gordon Brown’s premiership. |
| “I have seen these memos in the past – they happen when a prime minister is losing grip … the prime minister needs to show leadership,” he said on ITV’s Peston on Sunday. | “I have seen these memos in the past – they happen when a prime minister is losing grip … the prime minister needs to show leadership,” he said on ITV’s Peston on Sunday. |
| The document shines a light on the frustrations in the government over leaks thwarting its attempt to maintain “no running commentary” around the Brexit process. | |
| However, the vacuum that has been left means any revelation is pored over by the press. One handwritten note, photographed when the aide to a senior Conservative MP carried it on Downing Street, suggested Britain would have to leave the single market. | However, the vacuum that has been left means any revelation is pored over by the press. One handwritten note, photographed when the aide to a senior Conservative MP carried it on Downing Street, suggested Britain would have to leave the single market. |
| The notes, which were presumed to have been written during a meeting with officials or ministers in the Department for Exiting the EU, also included: “What’s the model? Have cake and eat it,” and suggested: “French likely to be most difficult.” |