AFP, London :
While British politicians have spent the month since the EU referendum in a whirl of resignations, recriminations and political backstabbings, civil servants have been quietly beginning the mammoth task of implementing Brexit.
Unpicking 43 years of EU laws and regulations and forging new alliances outside the 28-nation bloc arguably represents the biggest challenge for Whitehall-as the civil service is collectively known-since World War II.
Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to implement the June 23 referendum vote to leave the EU-but what this means in practice is not yet clear.
In talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande this week she said she would not launch the formal two-year exit process before the end of this year, to give the government time to formulate its position.
It will be up to the civil service to draw up options in terms of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU, its future relationship with European allies and new trade deals.
Issues at stake range from the status of EU citizens in Britain and Britons living on the continent, to whether Britain will want continued access to the EU single market.
There are also questions over what happens to British recipients of key EU programmes such as agricultural subsidies and scientific research funding.
Three ministers will help shape Britain’s new future outside the EU-
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Minister for Exiting the European Union David Davis and Minister for International Trade Liam Fox.
They all campaigned to leave the bloc in the referendum, but as individuals they have clashed in the past.
May, who campaigned to stay in the EU, will maintain control by personally chairing a Brexit cabinet group.
But leaving the EU will impact on almost everything in government, and May has told all her cabinet ministers that they have a responsibility to “make Brexit work”.
The new Department for Exiting the European Union will oversee preparations on leaving the bloc and support the prime minister in negotiations for the divorce.
While British politicians have spent the month since the EU referendum in a whirl of resignations, recriminations and political backstabbings, civil servants have been quietly beginning the mammoth task of implementing Brexit.
Unpicking 43 years of EU laws and regulations and forging new alliances outside the 28-nation bloc arguably represents the biggest challenge for Whitehall-as the civil service is collectively known-since World War II.
Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to implement the June 23 referendum vote to leave the EU-but what this means in practice is not yet clear.
In talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande this week she said she would not launch the formal two-year exit process before the end of this year, to give the government time to formulate its position.
It will be up to the civil service to draw up options in terms of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU, its future relationship with European allies and new trade deals.
Issues at stake range from the status of EU citizens in Britain and Britons living on the continent, to whether Britain will want continued access to the EU single market.
There are also questions over what happens to British recipients of key EU programmes such as agricultural subsidies and scientific research funding.
Three ministers will help shape Britain’s new future outside the EU-
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Minister for Exiting the European Union David Davis and Minister for International Trade Liam Fox.
They all campaigned to leave the bloc in the referendum, but as individuals they have clashed in the past.
May, who campaigned to stay in the EU, will maintain control by personally chairing a Brexit cabinet group.
But leaving the EU will impact on almost everything in government, and May has told all her cabinet ministers that they have a responsibility to “make Brexit work”.
The new Department for Exiting the European Union will oversee preparations on leaving the bloc and support the prime minister in negotiations for the divorce.
