So much for unity! EU in disarray as MEPs threaten to start their OWN Brexit talks with UK

Express UK 

 

Guy Verhofstadt, the EU Parliament’s chief negotiator, savaged representatives from the European Council and threatened to start up his own talks with the UK if MEPs are not given a leading role in the Brexit process.

His astonishingly blunt ultimatum will alarm European leaders and signals the start of a long and acrimonious war between the Council, which represents the interests of the individual member states, and the Parliament which speaks for the euro elite in Brussels. 

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage said the proposal showed that the EU had become “so unworkable” that Britain should ditch triggering Article 50 and instead just walk away from the troubled bloc. 

The row erupted after Mr Verhofstadt accused EU Council chiefs of trying to sideline the EU parliament and hand MEPs only the most minimal role in the Brexit negotiations. 

Martin Schulz said MEPs and member states are heading for a period of conflict over Brexit

European leaders fear that the talks with Britain will become too bitter and politicised if MEPs are allowed a significant input, and have moved to shut them out. 

But speaking at a plenary session of the EU Parliament today, Mr Verhofstadt blasted: "What they are proposing is simply to say we go forward with the Brexit negotiations without the parliament." 

He then rounded on stunned EU Council official Ivan Korcok, asking him: "Are you not aware that we have to approve these arrangements?

"Do you want that we open separate negotiations with the British authorities? You can get it - if that’s what you want we’ll do it. It’s time that you also involved the parliament from day one." 

Mr Verhofstadt then repeated a famous Lyndon B Johnson quote - that "it's probably better to have him inside the tent p****** out, than outside the tent p****** in" - telling Mr Korcok: "Maybe that’s a good reality that you can recall to the European Council."

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