UK officials to skip most EU meetings from next month

Steve Barclay, the Brexit secretary, said the move would save ‘hundreds of hours’ that could be used preparing to leave the EU. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty ImagesBritish officials will stop attending most EU meetings from September, the Brexit secretary, Steve Barclay, has said, suggesting his department would slash attendance by more than half to “unshackle” officials and ministers.The government will now only send officials to EU meetings where the UK has “a