Liam Fox accuses EU of trying to 'blackmail' UK over Brexit deal
The UK Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox has accused the European Union of trying to "blackmail" Britain amid growing tensions between London and Brussels over sluggish progress in Brexit negotiations.
Fox was speaking in the Japanese capital of Tokyo on Friday, where he is accompanying UK Prime Minister Theresa May on a three-day trip to Kyoto and Tokyo focused on post-Brexit trade.
Fox was asked by ITV news whether it was time for the UK to agree on the much-disputed Brexit settlement with the EU, in order to proceed towards the second, trade-focused part of the process.
“We can’t be blackmailed into paying a price on the first part,” Fox said.
“We think we should begin discussions on the final settlement because that’s good for business, and it’s good for the prosperity both of the British people and of the rest of the people of the European Union,” he added.
Speaking later to Sky News, Fox expressed frustration at the EU's insistence on agreeing a divorce settlement before moving on to trade talks.
“I think there is frustration that we have not been able to get on that longer-term issue, that we’re stuck on this separation issue, and we’re not able to get on to the issues that will matter in the longer term for the future prosperity of the UK and the people of Europe,” he said.
Fox warned that failing to reach a comprehensive trade deal would send a dangerous message to other non-EU members seeking to invest in Europe.
EU officials, however, maintain their hard line on the Brexit bill reflects the position of member states, particularly France and Germany.
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The EU’s Chief Negotiator for Brexit Michel Barnier warned on Thursday that Britain’s approach to Brexit was “nostalgic” and “unrealistic”, his strongest criticism of London’s stance at the talks so far.
Barnier was speaking at a tense press conference alongside the UK’s Brexit Minister David Davis at the end of the third round of EU-UK negotiations in Brussels in the headquarters of the European Commission.
“When I read some of the papers that David has sent me… I see a sort of nostalgia in the form of specific requests that would amount to enjoying the benefits of the single market without being part of it,” Barnier said.
Davis immediately hit back, telling Barnier “I wouldn’t confuse a belief in the free market for nostalgia.”
The bad-tempered press conference came after four days of intense negotiations that brought little progress on the issues of citizen’s rights, Ireland, and the financial settlement to exit the EU.
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