Britain to cut almost all diplomatic contact with EU in coming days to focus on Brexit British officials will not be present at least two thirds of the 800 meetings currently planned for September and October

Almost all British attendance at EU diplomatic meetings will end by 1 September, the Government has said.

UK ministers and officials will only attend European Union meetings where the UK has a “significant national interest”, the Department for Exiting the European Union said.

The cut off falls two days before MPs return from summer recess on 3 September, after which a no-confidence vote in the government is anticipated.

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British officials will not be present at least two thirds of the 800 meetings currently planned for September and October and only attend those relating to the UK’s exit on 31 October.

Freeing up ministers

Boris Johnson will still attend European Council meetings of the bloc’s leaders.



The Government claimed the change will allow officials to focus on the UK’s future relationship with the EU and the pursuit of trade deals with nations around the world.

Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay said: “An incredible amount of time and effort goes into EU meetings with attendance just the tip of the iceberg.

“Our diligent, world-class officials also spend many hours preparing for them whether in reading the necessary papers or working on briefings.

“From now on we will only go to the meetings that really matter, reducing attendance by over half and saving hundreds of hours.

“This will free up time for ministers and their officials to get on with preparing for our departure on 31 October and seizing the opportunities that lie ahead.”

At meetings where the UK is not represented, its vote will be delegated.

Brexit deadline

The Brexit department said the move was “not intended in any way to frustrate the functioning of the EU”, but to ensure the UK’s exit.



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The move comes days after Mr Barclay signed the official commencement order to end the jurisdiction of European laws on 31 October.

The signing of the repeal officially sets in motion the process of no longer binding the UK to European law.

The move was considered the strongest signal yet that the Government will not budge on its Halloween Brexit deadline.