'Scrooge' Michel Barnier attacked for 'posturing' over Brexit trade warning
CHIEF Brussels negotiator Michel Barnier faced an angry backlash yesterday after ruling out protection for the City of London in a Brexit trade deal.
Barnier: UK will keep obligations to the EU throughout transition
In a surprise warning ahead of the next round of Brexit talks, he insisted Britain’s financial services industry will be blocked from freely trading across EU borders.
He also signalled that Britain will be forced to accept the continuance of all EU rules and regulations throughout a two-year transition period after quitting the EU in March 2019.
His remarks in a newspaper interview yesterday, even before EU leaders have set his negotiating mandate for the next round of talks, provoked extreme irritation among ministers.
They were braced for more tough wrangling with the EU negotiating team when the Brexit discussions resume in Brussels in the New Year.
Michel Barnier faced a backlash over Brexit trade warning from the City of London
Barnier is yet to receive his new negotiating mandate from EU bosses
Michel Barnier says lots of things. He is a negotiator.
Labelling it posturing, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson shrugged: “Michel Barnier says lots of things. He is a negotiator.
"I am quite sure we can deliver the services part of the package that is so vital for the City of London.”
Brexit-backing pressure group Change Britain said that other EU nations had signalled that they want access to the UK’s financial services to remain open after Brexit.
Financial services trade body TheCityUK said: “It might be Christmas but Michel Barnier doesn’t need to play Scrooge.”
Barnier: No special access for UK financial services after Brexit
Gavin Williamson shrugged off Barnier's words as 'posturing'