‘Classic British pragmatism has evaporated in front of ideology’

Europe’s former top civil servant believes that the British prposals for the border are wishful thinking

Catherine Day, former secretary-general of the European Commission Picture: Fergal Phillips

A former top EU civil servant has heavily criticised Britain’s Brexit negotiators as unprepared ideologues who “dance around in ambiguity”. Catherine Day, the former secretary general of the European Commission and current special adviser to its president, described Britain’s suggested solutions to the vexed Irish border issue as “wishful thinking” and questioned whether Brexit secretary David Davis speaks for anyone other than himself.

In a sharp critique, Day said “classic British pragmatism has ...