Brexit Secretary David Davis has hit back at suggestions that there are a lack of women in the team negotiating the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.
Mr Davis said 40% of the 98 officials who travelled to Brussels for July’s round of talks were women and stressed 52% of his Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) staff are female.
Concerns over a gender imbalance emerged after photographs from the June and July negotiations showed mainly men on the UK side of the talks.
Delighted to be in Stockholm earlier to meet @AnnLinde ahead of talks on new UK-EU partnership after exit. Outcome can be good for both pic.twitter.com/Qk9SG8Byyo
— David Davis (@DavidDavisMP) February 14, 2017
But the senior officials seen in those pictures only make up a small proportion of Britain’s negotiating team, according to Mr Davis.
In an update letter to the House of Lords EU Committee, Mr Davis said: “Using the July round as an example, approximately 60% of the UK’s negotiating team were men and 40% were women. This represents those from Whitehall and UKRep (UK Representation to the EU) who attended working groups or plenary meetings and is not limited to senior civil servants.
“The senior team is neither exhaustive nor necessarily fixed, as evidenced by the incorporation of Sarah Healey, Director General at DExEU, as a senior lead for the July negotiating round.
Watch David Davis as he arrived in Brussels today to reiterate that the UK and EU should work together to get the best outcome pic.twitter.com/7vHruZadK7
— Exiting the EU Dept (@DExEUgov) July 17, 2017
“As I say, though, this will vary from round to round as we deploy the best available staff for each issue under negotiation.
“As of 31 July 2017, women make up approximately 52 percent of the department’s workforce and men 48 percent.
“We continue to strive towards achieving diversity across the civil service, representative of modern day Britain, and as Secretary of State for DExEU, I remain committed to supporting that objective.
“I will also continue to work for the best possible deal for the UK during these negotiations, and that means using the best expertise we have available to support the negotiation in DExEU and across Whitehall, regardless of gender or any other factor.”
Meanwhile, Mr Davis's former chief of staff has described Brexit as a "catastrophe" as he led calls for centrist MPs to form a new party.
James Chapman, who worked for the Brexit Secretary following the EU referendum last year, targeted a number of pro-Remain MPs from different parties such as Labour former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna and Tory Anna Soubry with his comments as he suggested they join forces against Brexit.
He tweeted: "Past time for sensible MPs (Members of Parliament) in all parties to admit Brexit is a catastrophe, come together in new party if need be, and reverse it."
His comments were welcomed by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, who posted on Twitter: "I agree with David Davis' ex chief of staff. The public should have a chance to exit from Brexit."
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