Government blasted for 'ban' on foreign academics' Brexit advice

One Britain's top universities says it will stand by its foreign academics after it said the government had banned them advising ministers on Brexit because they are not UK nationals.

The bar on foreign experts at the London School of Economics has been branded "utterly baffling".

The move is reportedly due to concerns over sensitive data being exposed during Brexit negotiations.

Sara Hagemann, an assistant professor at LSE's Europe Institute, said government representatives told her they will no longer take advice from her or her non-UK colleagues. Ms Hagemann tweeted:

Nick Clegg, former Lib Dem leader and now its European Union spokesman, said: "It is utterly baffling the government is turning down expert, independent advice on Brexit simply because someone is from another country.

"This is yet more evidence of the Conservatives alarming embrace of petty chauvinism over rational policy making."

Brexit means whatever Theresa May chooses

LSE interim director Prof Julia Black said the world-renowned university stood by its academic principles of independence.

"However, it is for the Foreign Office to determine what its national security arrangements are, and their legality, not for us. We are standing firm to our principles of academic independence and valuing our truly international community of scholars," she said.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "The FCO regularly works with academic institutions to assist in its policy research, and nothing has changed as a result of the referendum.

"It has always been the case that anyone working in the FCO may require security clearance depending on the nature and duration of their work."