Nigel Farage rips Michel Barnier apart over fears Labour will drag UK closer to EU
Brexiteers have warned that Michel Barnier is a "smooth political operator" who could undo Britain's freedom from the EU.
Michel Barnier is Emmanuel Macron's shock nomination to become France's next prime minister. The surprise choice stunned the French public as well as Brexiteers across the Channel.
Those who led the campaign to quit the European Union have warned that Mr Barnier is a "smooth political operator" who could undo Brexit with the help of Sir Keir Starmer.
Nigel Farage, who leads the Reform UK party, told POLITICO that his old French rival would help British Prime Minister Keir Starmer drag the UK closer to the EU.
He said: “An EU fanatic as French prime minister would, sadly, suit the Labour government."
Mr Farage issued a warning about Sir Keir's long-standing demand for a Brexit "reset" with Brussels. This comes ahead of a major Anglo-French summit, set for 2025 in London.
The British PM is keen for closer ties with the EU on security and defence, as well as cutting red tape for British businesses.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, who lost his seat at the July election, said Mr Barnier was “no friend of the UK," before omniously adding: "But he is a capable political operator."
Former Tory MP Bill Cash said the Labour leader "is a loose cannon on the European issue" and predicted that Sir Keir would "be able to work with Barnier — but not in the [British] national interest."
Sir Bill said: "If Macron wants that and I think he will, he wants Britain closer to the EU, that's what Barnier will do."
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Mr Barnier has repeatedly described Brexit as a grave, historical error, calling it a "nonsense" and a "lose-lose" for the EU and the UK. He has recently urged Brussels and France to try and forge closer UK-EU relations.
Speaking last year, Mr Barnier backed Sir Keir's idea for closer EU-UK security and defence ties and called on the two sides to search for more areas of cooperation.
A Downing Street spokesperson on Thursday congratulated Mr Barnier on his appointment, saying: "France has long been one of our closest allies. We work closely with them, that will continue."
The new British government has been forced to repeatedly reject claims that they are going to weaken Brexit. They have already rejected proposals from Brussels for a youth mobility scheme, amid concerns it could lead to freedom of movement.
Meanwhile, Mr Barnier's appointment still needs to be confirmed by the French parliament.
President Macron is hoping that the EU’s former Brexit negotiator can break months of political deadlock in the country.
Mr Macron is relying on Le Pen's far-right National Rally party to back Mr Barnier.
Sébastien Maillard, an associate fellow at the Chatham House foreign policy think tank, said that, if confirmed, Mr Barnier's main concerns would be domestic.
However, Mr Maillard did not rule out a foreign affairs role for the presumptive French PM, adding: "He will be welcoming in the change of tone and attitude and will think there is room for a better relationship regarding security and defense and perhaps migration."
