Theresa May with her husband Philip in Italy last month. She returns from holiday today

Theresa May is facing claims by senior Whitehall officials that Brexit decisions are being “rushed through” in chaotic fashion over the summer.



The prime minister will return from holiday today to increasing concern among civil servants and ministers that senior mandarins are railroading through decisions when many politicians are absent from Westminster.

Position papers on the Irish border after Brexit and a potential future customs arrangement are to be published this week. They form part of a series of up to a dozen government documents due to come out in the next two months before an important European summit in October.

Mrs May decided to issue the papers after criticism about a lack of clarity over the government’s negotiating position. Concerns have been raised about