Barnier was renowned as a tough and savvy negotiator for the EU during Britain’s tortured exit from the bloc. He’s on record as believing Brexit was a grave, historical error.
He often frustrated negotiating partners as fractious talks on a Brexit withdrawal deal and then an U.K—EU trade deal dragged on for years.
Brexiteer Nigel Farage, who leads the Reform UK party, told POLITICO that Barnier’s appointment, which still needs to be confirmed by France’s parliament, would help newly-elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer move Britain closer to the EU.
“An EU fanatic as French prime minister would, sadly, suit the Labour government,” Farage said.
Starmer wants to sign deals with the EU on areas including security and defense, while also renegotiating the U.K.’s Brexit deals to reduce red tape for Brititish businesses.
It’s all a part of the prime minister’s planned “reset” with Brussels, which critics claim is a part of a long-term ploy to get the U.K. to rejoin the EU eventually — a charge the U.K. government denies.