The EU’s Brexit negotiator mocks Boris Johnson as he says ‘I’m not hearing any whistling, just the clock ticking’
Michel Barnier called on the UK to make progress on EU citizens' rights and the Brexit divorce bill
BORIS JOHNSON was blasted by the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator yesterday as the Eurocrat lost his cool over Britain’s divorce bill.
Raging French Eurocrat Michel Barnier hit back at the Foreign Secretary for saying the EU could “go whistle” for its money by claiming the government was running out of time to make a deal.
Speaking in Brussels he said: “I’m not hearing any whistling, just the clock ticking.”
And he ripped into the government for failing to make its position clear on the exit bill, the border with Ireland and the future of key agencies.
Brussels is said to want as much as £80 billion – given the huge hole Britain’s departure from the EU will leave in its annual Budget.
Tory MPs said the outburst revealed Europe’s concern about Brexit blasting a black hole in the EU budget – given we contribute over 12 per cent of Brussels’ cash.
In his outburst, Mr Barnier said negotiations on a new trade deal would not begin until the “first phase” was out of the way.
And ahead of a fresh round of Brexit talks next week he said there was no way two sides could have a fruitful relationship if Brussels could not trust Britain to honour its commitments.
He said: “This is a question which is of major importance in creating the basis that we need in starting the discussion on the future relationship, which is a very important subject.
“How do you build a relationship, a relationship based on trade, on security, on defence and on other subjects - some people have talked about universities - how do you build a relationship which is going to last with a country where you don’t have trust?”
He added: “It’s not an exit bill, it’s not revenge, at no time has it ever been those things. It’s a simple settling of accounts.”
Mr Barnier separately ripped into Theresa May’s offer on citizens rights – saying the UK offer was less “ambitious” than he hoped.
And he confirmed he would be meeting Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn today before talks with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones.
Tory Brexit-backer Jacob Rees Mogg last night said Michel Barnier’s outburst highlighted Britain’s Brexit ‘leverage’.
He told the Sun: “By the strength of his language Mr Barnier shows the weakness of his position.
“Without our money the EU’s finances are up the spout.”
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Sources claimed these include Tory Europhiles who still blame the Foreign Secretary for Brexit as well as men “offended” by his path to the Cabinet – among them Chancellor Philip Hammond.
Labour’s Emily Thornberry, stepping in for Jeremy Corbyn at Prime Minister’s Questions today, said ministers have "absolutely got to get a grip" on Brexit and reveal the impact of a "no deal" scenario.
But Damian Green, the PM’s stand-in in the House of Commons, claimed an independent report which will discuss the risks of Brexit is to be published tomorrow.