Barnier: Brexit UK is running away from war against jihadis
BRUSSELS’ chief Michel Barnier provoked outrage yesterday by suggesting Britain had run away from the fight against terror group Islamic State by backing Brexit.
The European Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator made his inflammatory comments in a speech at a security conference in Berlin. He also claimed Britain would be barred from taking part in EU security and crime arrangements despite arguing that the UK needed to do more in these areas.
Mr Barnier said Britain’s decision to leave the EU came six months after the French Defence Minister called for European solidarity to fight IS, known as Daesh.
Mr Barnier added: “Never had the need to be together, to protect ourselves together, to act together, been so strong, so manifest.
“Yet rather than stay shoulder to shoulder with the Union, the British chose to be on their own.”
Britain was the only major EU country to help to drive IS out of Iraq and Syria, has the biggest defence budget in the EU and has pledged to help defend Europe after Brexit.
Senior Tory MP Peter Bone said: “This is an extraordinary attack on the UK. How can we negotiate with someone who says this kind of thing?”
Tory MP James Cleverly, a former Army officer, said: “It is outrageous that Barnier is trying to talk down the UK’s role in combating Daesh.”