Sir Tim Barrow, a career diplomat and Britain’s former ambassador to Brussels, is set to be appointed imminently by Theresa May as the UK’s new EU ambassador, in a high-speed replacement for Sir Ivan Rogers.
Four well-placed sources have told the Financial Times that Sir Tim has been recommended for the post by Sir Jeremy Heywood, cabinet secretary, as Mrs May tries to draw a line swiftly under the row over Sir Ivan’s shock departure.
The choice of Sir Tim will be a disappointment to Eurosceptic Tory MPs who have been critical of pro-EU “group think” at the Foreign Office and wanted to see a candidate with an open mind about the advantages of Brexit.
But Sir Jeremy insisted that the post should not be politicised and said it was a key civil service appointment. Mrs May agreed that it would be wise to swiftly draw a line under the controversy Sir Ivan’s departure had aroused.
Sir Tim Barrow, the former ambassador to Russia from 2011-2015 and current political director at the Foreign Office, was the most obvious choice from the diplomatic network. He has significant experience of Brussels, serving two stints in EU roles.
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