Pub chief tells EU to ‘wise up’

÷ UK pub operator JD Wetherspoon has urged European Union “oligarchs” to “take a wise-up pill” over Brexit negotiations.

Brits will favour goods from outside the EU if the country is unable to secure a favourable agreement, said group chairman Tim Martin. “As a result of posturing and threats, EU negotiators are inevitably encouraging importers like Wetherspoon to look elsewhere for supplies.”

The European Commission said the pub chief ’s characterisation of Brussels “doesn’t have any implication for the way we negotiate”.