'A bigger blow than the 1956 Suez Crisis': Former top foreign office mandarin gives stark Brexit warning

Sir Simon Fraser, who was top mandarin at the Foreign Office for five years, described Brexit as a bigger blow than the 1956 Suez Crisis, which became an emblem of British foreign policy humiliation. The UK’s credibility as a country that “pragmatically conducts affairs” had been “badly damaged” by the fallout from quitting the EU, he said, adding that the country’s “pivotal” role as a link between the US and Europe had been hit. Sir Simon said he also believes the nation’s security will be diminished.