The appointment of Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister has significant ramifications for Britain and Sir Keir Starmer‘s plan to snuggle up to European Union.
President Emmanuel Macron has appointed the ex-EU Brexit negotiator as New PM of France on Thursday occurred after more than 50 days of interim government.
In a political career spanning more than 50 years, Mr Barnier, 73, served as French minister for foreign affairs, European relations, the environment and agriculture.
He has twice served as a European commissioner and had a chance to run for a national leadership role in a primary vote for the Conservative presidential candidate in 2021.
In his new role, Mr Barnier will likely deal directly with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmerwhose government has said it is determined to restore relations with the EU and denies that this means reversing Brexit.
Sir Keir hopes trade between the UK and the EU can be revived as part of his ambition to tackle barriers between Britain and the bloc, including by negotiating a veterinary deal.
Before Sir Keir was given the keys to No 10, Mr Barnier warned that Labour would have to bring back free movement if it wanted to renegotiate Boris Johnson‘s Brexit business.
He said The telegraph in June: “It’s one thing to say we can improve the relationship, but it’s another thing to say we can open up the single market.
“Any UK government knows the rules of the single market — you can’t be in and out at the same time.”
His comments were made when the former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned Brexit would be reversed under Sir Keir, with British businesses, jobs and people paying the price.
In an interview with Financial TimesMr Barnier repeated his view that there could be no reopening of the Brexit deal, suggesting Sir Keir will find an intractable counterpart in Paris, while also seeking to open doors in Brussels, where the new French prime minister is a familiar figure.
Mr. Barnier made no secret of his feelings about Brexit and Britain’s relationship with the EU after the 2016 referendum.
In his book, The Grand Illusion, Mr. Barnier presents his account of the Brexit speaks. He describes Boris Johnson like “a bulldozer” trying to “force its way through” despite failing to fully understand the legal complexities of the negotiations.
Extracts from the book published in The Guardian show Mr Barnier treating Theresa May with more respect, describing her as a “tenacious” woman surrounded by men who put their personal interests ahead of the UK.
Mr. Barnier had already rejected Brexit as “absurd”, telling Politico that he saw no positive aspect to Britain leaving.
He said if Britain wanted to rejoin the EU the door would be open, but warned that divergence from the bloc’s standards would make that more difficult.
However, Sir Keir may find more fertile ground in defence and foreign policy, as Mr Barnier said last year the time was right for greater cooperation between the UK and EU in both these areas.
He said Political It was in the interest of both parties to collaborate in the face of shared challenges, including the war in Ukraineterrorism and climate change.