Brexit news latest: Theresa May 'was warned that triggering Article 50 was a bad idea'

Prime Minister Theresa May was warned that triggering Article 50 so promptly was a bad idea, the former ambassador to the EU has told MPs.

Sir Ivan Rogers, who was ambassador to the bloc before quitting in 2017, told the Foreign Affairs Committee of warnings he issued to Mrs May against starting the Brexit countdown.

He said he was contacted by Olly Robbins, then the Brexit department's permanent secretary, over her plan to announce in October 2016 when she would trigger Article 50.

Sir Ivan said: "Olly rang me up to say, 'She's going to announce the date set for triggering Article 50 tomorrow. I don't think that's a very good idea. What do you think?'

"I said no I don't think it's a very good idea because you lose a lot of leverage the moment you do that.

"But presumably if they are telling you that they are going to announce it, we're fighting a losing battle but I think it's worth fighting just to at least register that I don't think it's very wise because that's exactly what the opposition wants you to do."

He explained that the EU's stance of no negotiation without the trigger being pulled maximised the Bloc's leverage and reduced the UK's.

Sir Ivan also told the committee that Mrs May's speech setting out her Brexit red lines prompted him to think "blimey" that will cause a stir in Brussels.

He told MPs he and then cabinet secretary Lord Jeremy Heywood had no sight of the speech before it was delivered at the Conservative Party conference in 2016.

In her speech, Mrs May said that any deal would have to include control of the UK's borders, exiting the EU's single market and not staying in the customs union.

Sir Ivan said he "didn't get any sight of it in advance", despite seeing previous party leaders' speeches.

"I didn't see the speech. I of course thought the moment I did see it 'blimey that's going to elicit quite a reaction in Brussels'," he said.

"I did talk to Jeremy Heywood and say did you see the speech it's a bit puzzling that we suddenly get landed with this and red lines which are really going to take people by surprise in Brussels and he said he hadn't seen it."