Michel Barnier: 'The door is always open for the UK'

Speaking in London last week at a UK In A Changing Europe think tank event, former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said that the door “remains open” for the UK to rejoin the EU, explaining how he would like the two sides to join together to form a new partnership.

When asked about Britain’s prospects of rejoining the EU, he made it clear that that was a decision for the British people. He said: “It is not for me to give advice to say you have to join or not to join. It will be your choice, the choice of your leaders, the choice of your MPs. It will be your choice and your sovereign choice, exactly as Brexit has been the choice of the UK people.

“The door on the EU side will remain open any time – for you and some others. If Switzerland or Norway were to change, the door is open. Everybody knows the conditions.”

Now, Europe’s Mr Brexit has joined Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart on The Rest is Politics LEADING to discuss the truth about Brexit.

“Brexit is a lose-lose game. A lose-lose game for everyone on both sides. I didn’t change my mind – there is no added value from Brexit. To be frank, I look at the current difficulties of the UK and nobody can be happy. We need stability and for both sides to corporate together. But, I think not all of Britain’s current difficulties are caused by Brexit, but they are certainly made worse by Brexit.”

When asked if the deal he negotiated with Theresa May was a better deal than the one the UK ended up with under Boris Johnson he said the crucial difference was about Northern Ireland, adding: “What created problems in Northern Ireland and for the Good Friday Agreement and stability peace and violence is nothing else than Brexit.”

As a result of a tumultuous seven years in British politics, Barnier has seen first-hand the ever-revolving door of prime ministers, but he always upheld quiet respect for May. “She always acted with dignity, courage and tenacity. That is why I respect Theresa May. We worked with her in good faith. But for the rest, what happened in the Tory party has been evident. These people sought to push Theresa May outside”.

However, in comparison, his thoughts on Boris Johson were damning. As he penned in his book, My Secret Brexit Diary, which was published last year with the paperback version available to buy on Tuesday, he explain how Johnson was more “baroque” than May. “During the time with Johnson and Frost, ideology took hold of the pragmatism of the UK.

To hear more from Barnier on why Keir Stamer has prime ministerial material, the future of German-Franco relations and what sacrifice he made to be a politician, listen to the full podcast episode here.