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A former top civil servant at the Foreign Office has admitted revealing to ministers and colleagues that he voted Remain.<\/p>\n
Lord Simon McDonald said he was attempting to comfort colleagues left “tearful” at the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum, despite the Civil Service code demanding “impartiality”.<\/p>\n
Speaking in a documentary by the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, the peer said the main feeling in the Foreign Office after the vote to leave Brussels was one of “mourning”.<\/p>\n
He added: “People were in tears. People were in shock.<\/p>\n
“On this occasion, this solitary occasion, I decided to tell my colleagues and therefore let ministers know that I voted to remain in the EU.”<\/p>\n
Lord McDonald, who was the Foreign Office’s permanent secretary between 2015 and 2020, said he believed colleagues knew his position anyway.<\/p>\n
He said: “I was trying to maintain credibility and trying to convey a message to a group of people, most of whom I felt had voted to remain in the EU, that their personal feelings were beside the professional point.”<\/p>\n
He admitted that the Foreign Office board was “not entirely comfortable” with the move.<\/p>\n
Former deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara responded: “Wow… I don’t know why that would be a good or helpful thing.”<\/p>\n
The code for civil servants requires they act with impartiality by never allowing “personal political views to determine any advice you give or your actions”.<\/p>\n
Lord McDonald is a controversial figure among some Tory Brexiteers and played a role in the downfall of Boris Johnson after leaving office.<\/p>\n
He revealed Mr Johnson had been warned about a complaint against Chris Pincher before appointing him as a party whip.<\/p>\n
Laura Kuenssberg: State Of Chaos is being broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm.<\/p>\n
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