Ex-Minister criticises negotiator

DEMANDS BY the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier for agreement to first be reached on the UK’s divorce bill before talks progress is “entirely contradictory”, a former Brexit minister has said.

Lord Bridges of Headley referred to the negotiating guidelines set out by Mr Barnier himself earlier this year that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”.

He was speaking after the senior Brussels official indicated progress was needed within two weeks on so-called divorce issues for the bloc’s leaders to consider moving on to the next stage of negotiations, looking at a trade deal and transitional arrangements.