I’ll teach UK a lesson
EU chief vows to ‘educate’ Britain about price we’ll pay for leaving
BRITAIN needs to “learn what leaving the EU means”, the European Union’s top Brexit negotiator has insisted.
Michel Barnier said the “extremely serious consequences” of exiting the single market had not been explained to voters. Signalling what he called “an educational process”, he added: “We intend to teach people.” But Mr Barnier was challenged by Brexit Secretary David Davis for taking a “silly approach” to talks.
The EU chief had claimed there had been no “decisive” progress in the latest Brussels negotiations. Mr Davis told the BBC his EU counterpart “wants to put pressure on us”.
He added: “The stance looked a bit silly. There plainly were things that we had achieved.” The pair are deadlocked over UK commitments. Mr Barnier urged the UK to honour a 2014 commitment to pay 14% of the EU budget until 2020.
It is claimed Theresa May is poised to agree but not until after next month’s Tory conference.
Sainsbury’s boss Mike Coupe is to warn fresh food could rot at UK borders if Brexit rules are too strict.