Britain secretly campaigned to stay in the European Union?

Former British trade minister Peter Lilley recently revealed that British diplomats in Brussels are trying to negotiate to keep Britain in the European Union (EU).

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron and Mr. Ivan Rogers (right), who just resigned as British ambassador to the EU - Photo: AFP

The British Independent newspaper on January 5 quoted Mr. Peter Lilley in a BBC program when commenting on Mr. Ivan Rogers, the British ambassador to the EU, who just announced his resignation, saying that "many diplomats and EU officials are trying to negotiate for Britain to stay instead of handling the procedures to leave the bloc according to the planned roadmap."

Claiming that the British ambassador to the EU had decided to resign in a "bitter mood", Conservative politician Peter Lilley commented: "It would be very unusual for someone to take on the role of group leader without actually being determined to leave the bloc."

Earlier, on January 3, Mr. Ivan Rogers, who is considered to play a key role in Brexit negotiations, suddenly announced his resignation after sparking a controversy with the government about a post-Brexit trade deal that could take up to a decade to complete.

While opposition party members said Mr. Ivan's departure was "problematic," the British Prime Minister's Office downplayed the incident, saying that Mr. Ivan only left his position "a few months early."

According to Tuoi Tre