UK ambassador to EU resigns.

The UK government said Sir IVAN resigned early so that a successor could be in place before negotiations start.

Sir IVAN, who was appointed to the job by David Cameron in 2013, had been expected to play a key role in Brexit talks expected to start within months.

Last month the BBC revealed he had privately told ministers a UK-EU trade deal might take 10 years to finalise, sparking criticism from some members of parliament.

He told them this was also the view of the EU’s other 27 member states.