BREXIT Secretary Dominic Raab suffered an awkward encounter with European Union negotiator Michel Barnier as they arrived for talks in Brussels on T
BREXIT Secretary Dominic Raab suffered an awkward encounter with European Union negotiator Michel Barnier as they arrived for talks in Brussels on Thursday.
Dominic Raab travelled to Brussels for last-minute talks with the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier who had caused tensions to soar in recent days after rejecting the Chequers proposal.
British people have warned that the UK is being “walked all over” by Brussels after a video surfaced of the pair looking uncomfortable as they arrived for the meeting.
The footage begins with the Brexit Secretary walking with Mr Barnier to the meeting. Mr Raab asked: “Family well?”
Mr Barnier replied: “Fine thanks. Tomorrow I have to go to Vienna.
Mr Raab asked whether it was for “work or play” and Mr Barnier said: “Just because we have to prepare for the Salzburg meeting.”
In response, Mr Raab asked: “How’s that looking?”
Ignoring the question, Mr Barnier gestured the door and the Brexit Secretary said “after you”, allowing the EU negotiator to enter first.
But Mr Barnier refused and said “after you” and the Brexit Secretary entered.
Responding to the footage, one Twitter user wrote: “At least the British have manners.”
While one wrote: “Barnier not smiling much now – looks like he’s being replaced by EU 27 and he knows it.”
Another Twitter user added: “The UK being walked all over. #Sickening #Brexit #walkawaymay”
The meeting follows talks between the Brexit select committee and Mr Barnier on Monday to discuss the progress on negotiations, with Labour’s Stephen Kinnock insisting Barnier made it “crystal clear” that Chequers was unacceptable.
During exchanges with Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, the anti-Brexit campaigner insisted Brussels had spiked the plans.
He said: “I can tell you absolutely, unequivocally, without a shadow of a doubt that Chequers is dead in the water.
“Mr Barnier made it crystal clear that Chequer’s is completely unacceptable to the European Union.”
Mr Raab asked: “Can I just check he said ‘dead in the water’?”
Mr Kinnock said: “Les propositions sont mortes.”
Mr Raab replied: “OK.”
Mrs May’s Europe adviser Olly Robbins has since said the Chequers proposals are a “credible” and “sensible” offer.
Downing Street has said there was no change in the UK’s position on the need for “proper” information about the future relationship to be available by the time Parliament votes on the withdrawal agreement.
In August, Mr Barnier ruled out Prime Minister Theresa May’s plans, labelling them as “illegal, insane and impractical”.
Mr Barnier ruled out any special economic relationship with the UK and warned that to do so would unravel the entire “European project”.
The EU negotiator said: “They could stay in the single market, like Norway, which is also not a member of the EU, but they would then have to accept all the regulations and make contributions to European solidarity.
“But if we let the British cherrypick which of our regulations to follow, that would have serious consequence: all sorts of other third countries could insist that we offer them the same deal.”
express.co.uk
