LONDON – Michel Barnier was once the bane of Britain’s hardcore Eurosceptics – and he’s not exactly thrilled about his return to frontline politics.
A former EU Brexit negotiator Nominated on Thursday by Emmanuel Macron as French Prime Minister in an attempt to break months of political deadlock in the country.
The shock choice has already raised concerns among some high-profile Brexiteers about the impact it will have on the UK’s relationship with both France and the EU.
Barnier was renowned as a tough and shrewd negotiator for the EU during Britain’s acrimonious exit from the bloc. He is on record as calling Brexit a serious, historic mistake.
Brexit withdrawal deals and then a UK-EU trade deal dragged on for years, repeatedly frustrating negotiating partners.
Nigel Farage, a Brexiter who leads the Reform UK party, told Politico that Barnier’s appointment, which needs to be confirmed by the French parliament, would help newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starr move Britain closer to the EU.
“An EU hardliner as French prime minister would, unfortunately, suit a Labor government,” Farage said.
Starmer wants to sign deals with the EU on areas including security and defence, while renegotiating the UK’s Brexit deal to reduce red tape for British businesses.
It’s all part of the Prime Minister’s planned “reset” with Brussels, which critics claim is part of a long-term plot to eventually rejoin the EU – a charge the UK government denies.
There are also fears that Barnier’s influence could strain UK-French relations, after spending years at loggerheads with Britain’s top politicians.
But there was a grudging respect from some quarters. Jacob Rees-Mogg, a former Tory cabinet minister and arch-Brexiteer, said Barnier was “no friend of the UK”.
“But he is a capable political operator,” he added.
Closer to the EU?
While Barnier will have enough on his plate in a country beset by political crisis, Brexiteers’ fears that he will want to pull the UK closer to the EU may not be entirely unfounded.
The predictable French prime minister has said on numerous occasions that he wants to see UK-EU relations more closely after Brexit.
He told POLITICO last year that the UK and E.U A Security and Defense Treaty should be signed and explore other areas of cooperation.
He also called Brexit “nonsense” and a “lose-lose game” for the UK and the EU.
However, Barnier also firmly believes that Britain cannot pick and choose EU benefits and must move closer to the trading bloc on areas such as regulatory alignment to enjoy closer economic ties.
Former Tory MP Bill Cash said Starmer was “a loose cannon on European issues” and predicted the new prime minister would “be able to work with Barnier – but [British] national interest.”
“If Macron wants it, and I think he will, he wants Britain closer to the EU, that’s what Barnier will do,” he said.
Sebastian Mallard, associate fellow at the Chatham House foreign policy think tank, pointed out that Barnier’s main concerns in his new role will be more domestic in nature.
“I believe that relations between the UK and the EU or the UK and France will mainly be under Macron’s area of competence,” he said.
However, Mallard added that Barnier’s previous roles as European commissioner and then Brexit negotiator may have led him to take a greater interest in foreign policy.
“He would welcome a change of tone and attitude [from Starmer’s government toward Europe] And would think there is room for better relations on security and defense … and maybe migration,” he said.
In the coming months the relationship will receive its first major test: the next Anglo-French summit, set for next year in London.
Post ‘UK has no friends’: Brexiters upset by return of old foe Michel Barnier appeared first Politico.