'I'm not hearing any whistling': EU Brexit negotiator slaps down Boris Johnson over 'go whistle' comment

Michel Barnier, chief Brexit negotiator for the European Commissioner, said he was 'not hearing any whistling'
EPA
Eleanor Rose12 July 2017
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Europe's chief Brexit negotiator today slapped down Boris Johnson and warned that the “clock is ticking” on Britain’s hopes of a new trade deal.

Michel Barnier issued a crushing put-down to the Foreign Secretary’s claim that Brussels could “go whistle” for the multi-billion-pound cash settlement it is demanding from Britain.

“I’m not hearing any whistling, just the clock ticking,” the seasoned French politician responded when asked about Mr Johnson’s comments. His barbed rejoinder referred to the risk that Britain could crash out of the European Union in March 2019 without any deal on future trade and market access.

Mr Barnier said autumn 2018 would be the “endgame” for Brexit negotiations and, in a further rebuke to Mr Johnson, said Britain’s behaviour was eroding trust in European capitals. “How do you build a relationship based on trade and security and defence ... with a country where you don’t have trust?” he said.

“I am saying this from the bottom of my heart — I want to build that new relationship, that new partnership.

Boris Johnson addresses the House of Commons
PA

“We want that to work. That needs trust. Trust means giving security to the four million British and European citizens. It means settling accounts.”

The ex-foreign minister said “thousands” of spending programmes would be disrupted unless Britain honoured past agreements to pay towards them.

“That’s a question of trust. It’s not a ransom. It’s not an exit bill. It’s not revenge. It’s simply settling accounts.”

Formal Brexit talks started last month between delegations led by David Davis, representing the UK, and Mr Barnier, representing the remaining 27 states.

Mr Barnier won a victory by imposing a timetable under which Britain’s pleas for a trade deal will not be considered until there is progress on the EU-27’s priorities: a cash settlement paid by the UK, guarantees on the rights of EU citizens in Britain and a solution to fears that a hard border with Ireland could derail the peace in Northern Ireland.

Mr Davis has conceded Britain will meet “legal obligations” on the finances, leaving only the amount to be decided. Reports have claimed sums of £50 billion to £100 billion may be demanded.

Yesterday Mr Johnson said: “The sums that I have seen … seem to me to be extortionate and I think ‘go whistle’ is an entirely appropriate expression.”

The second round of Brexit talks take place next week. Mr Barnier said “substantial differences” remain and reiterated the EU’s call for the European Court of Justice to be the “ultimate guarantor” of the rights of EU citizens living in Britain. He was today hosting Jeremy Corbyn, Nicola Sturgeon and other opposition politicians. In the Commons, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry attacked government ministers for giving contradictory statements about whether Britain could leave the EU with no deal. “Are ministers making it up as they go along?” she asked.

First Secretary of State Damian Green replied: “Negotiations are going well and her fear of no deal is probably overstated.”

The Government came under fire today after it said it did not carry out a formal assessment of the impact of quitting the Euratom agency, which governs the transportation of nuclear materials.Tory ex-minister Ed Vaizey said this was “very surprising” because of possible consequences for jobs, energy supplies, research and medicine.

MPs were demanding to see the legal advice that led the Government to insist that Britain had to leave at the same time as quitting the EU. A government spokesperson said: “Although no formal Impact Assessment was carried out, Government did assess the impact.”

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