Exclusive: Robbins, who was believed to be Lammy’s choice for permanent undersecretary’s job, succeeds Philip Barton

The former Brexit negotiator Oliver Robbins has been appointed as the UK Foreign Office’s most senior civil servant, taking over from Sir Philip Barton.

Robbins, who was on the shortlist last year to take over as cabinet secretary but failed to get the civil service’s top job, was believed to be David Lammy’s favoured candidate for the role of permanent undersecretary in the Foreign Office (FCDO).