But, surprise, Barnier renews his warning over £90bn ‘divorce bill’

THE EU’s chief Brexit negotiator last night issued a fresh warning to Britain to pay the so-called ‘divorce bill’ as he attempted to heap pressure on Theresa May before her speech today.

Michel Barnier also warned that Britain would be forced to keep its borders open to European migrants if it wanted a transition period after it leaves the bloc in March 2019.

Mr Barnier told Italian MPs in Rome that he could not understand why there was still uncertainty over the British positions on the Irish border, citizens’ rights and the Brexit bill of up to £90billion. He said: ‘I’m wondering why – beyond the progress we’ve made on certain points – there is still today major uncertainty on each of the key issues.’

He added: ‘All that is necessary in this negotiation is that everyone honours the commitments that they have made to each other. To settle the accounts. No more, no less.’ The former French minister warned that there were effectively only 12 months of the two-year negotiating process remaining, as six months had already elapsed and six months will be needed at the end to ratify the decision.

Ahead of Mrs May’s expected request for a transition period where trading ties are maintained, he said that during this time Britain would have to follow all EU rules, including on freedom of movement. He said: ‘If we are to extend for a limited period the [benefits] of the EU, then logically this would require existing Union regulatory, budgetary, supervisory, judiciary and enforcement instruments and structures to apply.’

Last night, Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said Mr Barnier’s threats were ‘discourteous and tactically foolish’.