Michael Barnier beg to reset Brexit negotiation button after being condemned for his misconduct against Theresa May

Michael Barnier beg to reset Brexit negotiation button after being condemned for his misconduct against Theresa May

World Unknown   08:36

After days of several backlash from some European leaders against Michael Barnier for his misconduct against the British government after having a dinner meeting with the PM at No. 10 Downing Street, the EU Brexit negotiator has made an urgent move to reset negotiation button.

Though he is still putting the blame of his misconduct on Britain, the EU Chief negotiator stressed that it was time to start afresh.

Leaked reports suggested how the European Commission chief Jean Claude-Juncker was scornful of Theresa May after their dinner meeting last week.

While delivering a speech at the European University Institute “State of the Union” conference, Mr Barnier stated that Brexit - and the choice made by the UK - is the only thing to blame for the breakdown in relationships.

Mr Barnier also understood that the Cameron’s administration which opened borders for new EU nations in 2004 fermented the taste for immigration in Britain.

He suggested saying: “Let’s turn the page together in mutual respect and find solutions together.”

He said: “We will not discuss our future relationship with the UK until the 27 member states are reassured that all citizens will be treated properly and humanely.

“Otherwise, there can be no trust when it comes to constructing a new relationship with the UK.

“And I know, for this new partnership with the UK to be solid and to be sustainable, we have together to build it on the base on mutual trust.”

Speaking further, he said: “The integrity of the single market will never ever be compromised during these negotiations. “Free movement of people is at the heart of EU citizenship.”

According to Barnier’s believe, Britain would be worst hit if it prevents EU nationals from being part of its labour market, as he gave instance of how 1 in 15 job applicants in supermarkets are British citizens. And that there is going to be about 60,000 hospitality vacancies pro-Brexit which would be hard to fill.

Nonetheless, the PM and her Brexit team is yet to reveal what rights EU citizens working in Britain will have.

Notwithstanding his insistence that both parties need to begin again and communicate peacefully, he went on to maintain the EU must be given certain assurances before talks can begin seriously. Stating that its citizens will be “properly and humanely” treated by the UK.

The EU maintained they want equal rights for all EU nationals in the UK, as well “protection for the lifetime of the citizens who are concerned”.

Mr Juncker however said the English language is “losing importance in Europe” as he accused the UK of “abandoning” the EU. 

BREXIT BOMBSHELL: Economic crisis looms in Germany is 200,000 bankers relocates from the UK

BREXIT BOMBSHELL: Economic crisis looms in Germany is 200,000 bankers relocates from the UK

World Unknown   07:22

It has been revealed by a senior banker in Germany that Europe is on the brink of becoming entrapped in battle should 200,000 bankers relocate from London post-Brexit.

This was made known to Bloomberg News by a member of board at Deutsche Bundesbank Andreas Dombret, warning that banks had to be "very, very, very careful" as Brexit nears. The warning was issued after it was predicted that about 200,000 banker "could flee" London if the City loses passport rights after Brexit.

In a similar vein, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs have announced plans this week to transfer hundreds of their London staff to Frankfurt, Luxembourg and Dublin.

The banker said: "We have to be very very very careful that we don’t have a regularity race in the eurozone with one country trying to market its financial centre over others and making promises it cannot keep.

"We need to resolve this - or else this presents a major stability risk for Germany."

This scenario would mean a fight between EU countries to be the financial capital of the continent.

However, Mr Dombret confirmed that London "will remain an important financial centre and a big proportion of their HR force will stay". 

Theresa May still determined to cut net migration to the tens of thousand despite her party's failure on the issue

Theresa May still determined to cut net migration to the tens of thousand despite her party's failure on the issue

World Unknown   06:51

Despite their inability to meet their net immigration target to date, former Home Secretary and now British Prime Minister Theresa May has once again reassured the British people that her party is still on course in trying to reduce net migration to the “tens of thousands”.

It was very obvious that the issue of immigration was the major factor that made the British people to vote in favour of Brexit, thus several leave voters have welcomed the Tories promise regarding the issue.

During an interview with the Home Secretary, she was asked if the “tens of thousands” figure that appeared in the 2015 manifesto would be repeated in the 2017 document, she said: “It’s not going to be identical to the last one. We’re setting it out for hopefully a five year term, we’ve got a lot to think through to work out what’s the best way to deliver on our priorities.

"My personal view is we need to continue to bring immigration down.

"I want to make sure that we do it in a way that supports businesses - you know we're ending freedom of movement when we leaving the European Union.

"So the situation from that time the [2015] manifesto... has changed because we're leaving the European Union, so it's right that we look at it again."

Though some fears were raised by various businesses that such a measure is likely to bring about labour shortage in certain key sectors of the British economy, but Ms Rudd said firms should “do more” to try to hire workers from the UK.

Earlier this year it emerged that just one in 50 of the applications received by sandwich chain Pret a Manger were from applicants from the UK.

Moreover, in March, the company told a committee of MPs that they could face a labour shortage after Brexit but last month, the firm’s chief executive Clive Schlee said a new drive to hire British workers had shown “very encouraging” results.

Ms Rudd said: "I did hear that Pret a Manger had come out and said it's absolutely essential for us to have European workers because if we don't we're going to have to make more of an effort to recruit in the UK.

"Well, good I'd quite like them to make more of an effort to recruit in the UK. So we will be trying to push them as well to do more in the UK. Them and all business so that we make sure we look after people who are otherwise unemployed in the UK better.” 

Legal expert advises Theresa May to file a legal action Brussels regarding the controversial Brexit divorce bill

Legal expert advises Theresa May to file a legal action Brussels regarding the controversial Brexit divorce bill

World Unknown   06:05

Due to the huge financial divorce bill being demanded by the Brussels and denying the UK of taking any part of the EU’s asset it helped to build, the British government has been advised to “call the bluff” of Brussels and seek an independent tribunal to scrutinize the legal basis in which such demands are being made.

This piece of advice was issued by one of Tory barrister Martin Howe QC advising said: “One thing we could say is let’s agree to refer this to an international tribunal as to whether or not there is a legal claim and then it will be decided,” he said.

“It will put paid to any argument that the UK is trying to run away from or dodge its legal obligations.”

“That’s one way that the EU’s bluff could be called.”

Mr Howe, who is a founding member of Lawyers for Britain, a group of lawyers who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU in last year’s referendum, added: “My strong suspicion is that the EU side would never agree to that because they know their legal argument is completely empty.

“So saying that in practice may be just a way of calling their bluff.

“The other reason they wouldn’t agree to it is that they are desperate for the cash immediately.

“A decision five years down the line would not be appealing to them - although you can run these international arbitrations very fast if you want to and certainly within the two year period.”

The legal expert totally condemns such a huge demand which according to him has no legal basis claiming that it is “hard to see any credible basis upon which the UK could be said to be obliged” to pay for the deficit.

He further stressed his position on the issue, after Brussels raised the controversial divorce bill to about £84 billion.

“At the moment I haven’t seen anything of their legal papers explaining their claim so am relying on their public statements but from what I have heard and seen there is no obligation at all.

They add they are concerned that the EU still believe Mrs May won’t walk away in the event of a bad deal – allowing the EU to feel confident enough to ramp up the pressure.

Meanwhile, Zsolt Darvas, of thinktank Bruegel, has also said that the final demand may be far less than the amounts suggested, but then would still be in the tens of billions. The money is said to be owed because of projects Britain committed to which run until 2025. As he said not paying  a penny would make a trade deal practically impossible.

“I can’t see the EU singing a free trade agreement with the UK under those circumstances,” said Mr Darvas.

However, if Britain did end up contributing until 2025, it would entitle it to remain in the single market until that date.

“When you leave a club, you should have full rights during the cancellation period,” he said.

“If the UK is asked to pay the full fee, it should also benefit to single market access, maybe up to 2025.” 

Trouble in Brussels as Angela Merkel strongly condemns Mr Juncker's unwholesome conduct against his meeting with Theresa May

Trouble in Brussels as Angela Merkel strongly condemns Mr Juncker's unwholesome conduct against his meeting with Theresa May

World Unknown   08:05

Confusion brews among top EU leaders as German Chancellor Angela Merkel expresses her displeasure with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker after some sensitive details of his meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May was leaked.

The leakage was made public by a German newspaper as it outlined details of the dinner meeting at No 10 Downing Street. The newspaper reported how Mr Juncker said the PM was “living in another galaxy” and claimed that he left the talks “10 times more sceptical than I was before" that a deal could be struck.

The Commission President’s conduct was strongly condemned by Mrs Merkel, who was expressing some optimism for a little or no confrontational start in Brexit negotiations.

This is because, Mrs Merkel believes that it was either Mr Juncker or his Chief of staff Martin Selmayr hinted newsmen about what was talk about in a private meeting and indicted them of ”fuelling the flames”  before Brexit talks have even got under way.

According to reports in Der Spiegel she said: “It was not particularly helpful to fuel the flames like this.”

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung said Mr Juncker repeated his claims that Mrs May was “from another galaxy” and his “having delusions” during a telephone call with Mrs Merkel after the confrontational Downing Street dinner date.

Thus the Prime Minister was annoyed by Juncker's statements and stressed that she was prepared to walk away from the Brexit negotiating table with no deal at all rather than a bad one.

She told the BBC she would be a “bloody difficult woman” when dealing with Mr Juncker in future talks.

She said: “During the Conservative Party leadership campaign I was described by one of my colleagues as a bloody difficult woman.

“And I said at the time the next person to find that out will be Jean-Claude Juncker.”

Mrs May has made it clear she does not want leaks about the Brexit negotiations but many doubt that such secrecy is achievable when Brexit issues affect the interests of 27 other EU countries.

Brexit Secretary David Davis accused the European Commission of "trying to bully the British people" with an £85bn divorce bill from the EU.

Mr Juncker said: "We will negotiate fairly with our British friends, but let's not forget that it is not the EU that is abandoning the UK - it is the UK that's abandoning the EU, and that makes a difference.”

Gibraltar PM fires back at Spain over its moves to undermine his people's interest during Brexit talks

Gibraltar PM fires back at Spain over its moves to undermine his people's interest during Brexit talks

World Unknown   10:21

Spanish government flabbergasted by the Prime Minister of Gibraltar as he accused them of "seeking to make a profit" over Brexit in an angry tirade.

The PM made his indignation known after the Spanish government released its plans for Brexit, which involves clamping down of its rock and economy.

In a document called ‘Negotiations on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU’ which has been sent to congress, Spain said it plans to end Gibraltar’s “privileged” existence as a “tax haven”.

How Mr Picardo has issued a serious warning to Spain, saying that Gibraltar would fire back if it carries out such a plan during Brexit negotiations, an action which would make the inhabitants of Campo de Gibraltar victims, as they cross the border on a daily basis to work in the colony.

‘Campo de Gibraltar’ is a county in the province of Cadiz, in the most southwestern part of Andalusia. At least 7,000 to 9,000 Spaniards leave Campo de Gibraltar to go to the Rock to work every day.

Though a Spanish media which revealed the information said that the Spanish government is threatening not to accept that after Brexit the colony should maintain the "unjustified privilege" that has turned it into a tax haven "which competes unfairly with Spain".

Mr Picardo fired back at Spain saying "the Spanish Government’s mask is slipping”.

He added that he "saw in the report a way of Spain trying to use Brexit to take narrow advantage".

He said Gibraltar will continue to seek dialogue and friendship "over Spanish aggression and belligerence".

But he warns, however, his "goodwill and good faith will not be abused".

The Prime Minister added that "soon, Madrid will have to explain to the Campo why Spanish citizens starting work in Gibraltar post-Brexit don’t have the same rights as Gibraltarians".

Last week, he addressed Gibraltarians at a rally on Labour Day, saying that they will act with "reciprocity" if the EU "discriminates" against it.

He also recommended Spain seek protection for their workers after March 2019, once the UK leaves the EU.

The Spanish Government, however, has been insisting that it wants to reach agreements that allow workers in Campo de Gibraltar to keep their jobs, which Gibraltar needs.