Thread by @alexhallhall

I've had many ask why I took the job as Brexit Csllr, if I was as opposed to Brexit as my recent tweets now suggest? Or why I didn't just resign after the ref. I suspect I won't persuade many of my genuine intentions, and apols to those who've heard this before, but here goes...

First, as a professional civil servant, it was not my place to question the decision to hold the referendum, or how it was conducted, or the result. Whatever my personal views on the wisdom or otherwise of leaving the EU, I never felt I had a right to oppose it, while in govt.

Also, like many Remainers, I felt that like it or not, the results of the ref needed to be respected. I also had family members and friends who voted Leave - I disagreed (strongly) with their reasons but respected their right to have their views

Second, as I told an audience in Georgia, where I was posted at the time of the ref, as a professional civil servant, I felt "I had a job to do"...

To reassure my staff, many unsure what Brexit might mean; to reassure the Georgian govt that our support for them in face of Russian threats would not change - and to convey to wider public we were leaving the EU, but not abandoning Europe, and would remain a capable, steady ally

Which mattered a lot to Georgia, a country which has yearned to join the EU for years, as a bulwark against Russian threats, and to shore up its independence, and for which the prospect of membership has galvanized many worthwhile economic and political reforms

Third, because while I worried that many politicians underestimated the complexity and consequences of leaving the EU (as someone quipped "like taking the UK egg out of the EU omelette") never in my wildest imagination did I foresee quite how chaotic Brexit would turn out to be

I did not foresee how poorly the UK govt would manage the process, how there would be an absolute Winner Takes All mentality, Remainers cast as losers, and the process hijacked by the most extreme Brexiteers, even though the vote gave no explicit mandate for a hard Brexit.

I did not foresee that there would be no attempt to build political bridges/mend the divides caused by Brexit; no serious attempt at a nationwide consultation on the implications of the various Brexit options, incl with devolved administrations, business, or other sectors

I did not foresee that in fact our govt had no plan at all after the referendum; that the opposition had no unified (emphasis) coherent stance either (plenty of decent individuals on both sides making good points), and that the process would descend into farce in parliament.

Fourth, loyalty. A quaint notion, I know, but as I told friends on FB when I took up the Brexit post in DC, "I care about my country" and wanted to "do my bit" by helping explain the process and implications to Americans, dispel myths, counter shallow news coverage

It was precisely my perception that we were making such a poor job of it which persuaded me to take up the Brexit position. I felt I could make a difference. Conceit, naivety? Perhaps both. But the effort was sincere. I also thought I could usefully explain US views to London.

But as explained in previous posts, and my longer article, my position eventually became untenable and unbearable, in the face of our govt's behaviour/dishonesty, dismissal of concerns, trashing of institutions and crossing of (unwritten) constitutional boundaries

So, though I privately was a Remainer, it was never Brexit per se which finally compelled me to resign, but the way in which it was delivered, the lies, the damage to our reputation, credibility, relationships and standing in the world.

And to our own society, as evidenced by the nastiness and "loser" insults still hurled at those who have the temerity to question how Brexit was implemented, and still raise concerns about the impact. This is not how democracy is supposed to work.

Indeed, the damage caused by Brexit goes far beyond the tangible examples many have posted. But some have even dismissed these as just reflecting bias in my feed; this may be so, but the examples people posted are real to them, and it doesn't make their concerns invalid.

Finally, I didn't seek the limelight. At the request of my employers I did not publicise my resignation (letter was leaked); did not give interviews; stayed quiet for 2 years. And even after that, I did not pursue attention. I was invited to write an article, give a speech or two

This is what led to the interest on twitter, as well as some serious abuse of me. I did not seek a fight. I still want to engage respectfully with all views. But now I am out of govt, I am entitled to speak out, and will continue to do so, respectfully. Thank you.