EU's Michel Barnier warns return of free movement could be price for Labour's proposed bid to renegotiate Brexit
The return of free movement could be the price for Labour's proposed Brexit negotiation, Michel Barnier has warned.
The bloc's former chief negotiator has delivered a stark message to Keir Starmer that he will not be allowed to 'cherry pick' the benefits of membership.
The Labour leader has been talking up a drive to improve trading links with the EU if - as polls suggest - he wins the election on July 4.
He has stressed that the UK would not rejoin the EU, the single market or customs union - despite pressure from senior figures such as London Mayor Sadiq Khan - but argued he can still 'get a better deal'.
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has suggested Labour wants closer alignment in areas like chemicals and financial services.
The return of free movement could be the price for Labour 's proposed Brexit negotiation, Michel Barnier (pictured) has warned
The bloc's former chief negotiator has delivered a stark message to Keir Starmer (pictured) that he will not be allowed to 'cherry pick' the benefits of membership
In an interview with the Telegraph to mark the eighth anniversary of the Brexit referendum yesterday, Mr Barnier said the bloc would welcome fresh talks.
But he cautioned that the core rules of the single market - such as free movement - would not be up for grabs.
'It is one thing to say that we can revisit the relationship between the UK and the EU, and in the same spirit we can improve the relationship,' he said,
'But it is another thing to say we can open the single market. Any UK government knows the rules of the single market, you cannot be in and out at the same time.'
Mr Barnier was the EU's chief negotiator between 2016 and 2021, overseeing the torrid talks with the UK over the relationship.
He repeated one of his catchphrases from the period as he addressed Labour's hopes of an overhaul.
'If you speak about the chemical sector, you are speaking about a kind of cherry-picking. No way,' he said.
Mr Barnier suggested there was more scope in other areas such as 'defence, foreign policy, cooperation in Africa'.
'There are a lot of sectors where we can complete trade agreements and open new negotiations between the UK and EU,' he said.
'The main ones are obviously linked to the current situation in Ukraine and Europe with the war, the risk of terrorism, the stability all around us, I think we must, it is in our common interest to open a new negotiation.'
He also endorsed efforts to reduce checks on British food exports.
'I think there is a room for positive manoeuvre to complete a trade agreement with a specific veterinary agreement to facilitate the flows and exchanges in the sector of animals and vegetables,' the French politician said.
But he flagged that the question of access to fishing waters is set to loom again for the next government.
'Don't forget, we have put in the (Brexit trade) treaty the parallel negotiation of the agreement for the UK to access the electricity market of the EU in 2026,' he said.
'We have clearly put these two points in parallel. This point has been clear from day one. I recommend both sides to be reasonable at the beginning of this negotiation.'
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has suggested Labour wants closer alignment in areas like chemicals and financial services
