Brexit’s best of frenemies
David Davis loses first round of EU negotiation
BREXIT Secretary David Davis lost the opening skirmish of the EU divorce talks yesterday.
It started well, as he exchanged mountain-climbing themed gifts with his new best frenemy, chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier.
But it was all downhill after that. The Tories had wanted talks over future trading at the same time as other issues were thrashed out.
Instead, after seven hours of headto-head talks with Mr Barnier, Mr Davis walked away with a two-page “terms of reference” document.
And it did not mention trade once. Instead, three “negotiating groups” were set-up to hammer out deals over citizens’ rights, Britain’s Brexit bill and “other separation issues”.
Mr Davis squirmed as he was warned of “substantial” human, social, financial, legal, technical, economic and political consequences.
“Don’t underestimate the consequences,” said Mr Barnier. “It’s not about punishment or revenge. We’re just implementing the decision taken by the UK to leave the EU and unravel 43 years of patiently-built relations.”
Trade talks will only begin once the 27 other EU leaders deem sufficient progress has been made on early issues. But Mr Davis denied he had given in, insisting “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”.
A Whitehall source described the “general mood” as “very positive, very constructive”, with “a recognition from all sides that the clock is ticking and we do really need to push on”.
Keen mountaineer Mr Barnier, 66, had handed Mr Davis, 68, a handcarved hiking stick from his Alpine homeland. And Mr Davis gave him a signed first edition of a an epic French expedition to the Himalayas in 1950.
Earlier, a joint letter by the Confederation of British Industry and the British Chambers of Commerce called for the UK to keep EU single market and customs union benefits.
Mr Davis has vowed to quit both.
Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed DAVID DAVIS BRUSSELS, YESTERDAY Please don’t underestimate consequences of leaving the EU MICHEL BARNIER EU NEGOTIATOR