EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier to meet pro-European MPs

Mr Barnier will meet both Labour and Conservative MPs
EPA
Martin Coulter14 January 2018
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The EU's chief Brexit negotiator is set to meet a cross-party group of British pro-European MPs on Monday.

Mr Barnier will meet with a delegation chaired by Conservative MP Anna Soubry and Labour backbencher Chuka Umunna in Brussels.

The Guardian reports that he is keen to "engage directly with British parliamentarians" rather than exclusively with British government officials.

The meeting comes as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn faced increasing pressure from party members to back UK membership of the European single market.

Labour backbencher Chuka Umunna is among those attending the meeting
PA

But in an appearance on ITV's Peston on Sunday, Mr Corbyn said: "The single market is dependent on membership of the European Union."

Mr Umunna was quick to discredit this claim, pointing to Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland - all of which participate in the single market without full EU membership.

The controversy comes as Nigel Farage admitted the Brexit vote could be overturned as Remainers have "seized control of the debate" over the UK’s future relationship with the European Union.

The former Ukip leader and champion for Brexit said he is worried the Remain camp are free to influence the political debate unchallenged as they have a majority in Parliament.

It comes after he sensationally called for a second referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU, saying a new vote would “kill off” the debate as the percentage of people who would vote Leave would increase.

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