Brussels’ Brexit position ‘unrealistic’

Downing Street has accused EU chief negotiator Michel Bar ni er of painting a “misleading representation” of the UK’S post-brexit proposals to deflect from Brussels’ “unrealistic” position.

No 10 struck back yesterday after Mr Barnier warned that the UK is risking crashing out of the bloc without a deal at the end of the transition because it is refusing to compromise.

The negotiations are particularly deadlocked over fishing policy, with Britain demanding a relationship similar to the EU’S with Norway.

But Mr Barnier, in a speech on Wednesday, said he was “worried and disappointed” over a lack of concessions and said there would be no agreement if the UK did not budge over fisheries.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman responded: “Michel Barnier’s comments are a misleading representation of our proposals aimed at deflecting scrutiny from the EU’S own positions which are unrealistic and unprece - dented. The EU have refused to engage with our proposals and the documents we’ve brought to the table, insisting we must accept continuity with EU fisheries policy and disregarding the UK’S status as an independent coastal state.

“We need more realism from the EU on the scale of the change that results from our leaving the EU.”

Informal talks this week between Mr Barnier and his UK counter part David Frost failed to find a breakthrough ahead of formal negotiations