Theresa May 'distinctly unimpressed' by Liam Fox and Boris Johnson 'turf war'

credit - Paul Heartfield

Theresa May is reportedly "distinctly unimpressed" by attempts by Liam Fox to secure a transfer of powers and personnel from the Foreign Office to his newly formed Department of International Trade.

In a leaked letter to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Fox called for a "rational restructuring" which would see the FCO's economic diplomacy team move over to the Trade department.

A report in the media quoted government sources calling the letter an "institutional insult and assault" on Johnson's team. 

Downing Street sources are reported to have said that the Prime Minister believes "there is a big job to do and people need to get on with it", rather than engaging in a turf war.

It is understood that Johnson roundly rejected the International Trade Secretary's suggestions, only offering to send a few staff to the new department on a temporary basis.

There have also been suggestions of a delay to the Brexit process, with it being reported yesterday that neither Fox's department nor the new Brexit department headed by David Davis will be ready in time to trigger Article 50 in January 2017.