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Brexit: Nigel Farage meets with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier Brexit: Nigel Farage meets with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier
(about 4 hours later)
Leading Brexiteer Nigel Farage has met with the European Commission’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels as talks enter their next phase in the New Year. Leading Brexiteer Nigel Farage has met with the European Commission’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels.
The former Ukip leader, who is still an MEP, warned Mr Barnier that unless Brussels offered “compromise” then support for quitting the bloc without any trade deal would increase. The former Ukip leader, who is still an MEP, warned Mr Barnier that unless Brussels offered “compromise” then support for quitting the bloc without any trade deal would increase. 
His comments come as Theresa May appoints a new minister at the Department for Leaving the EU specifically in charge of preparations for a ‘no deal’ Brexit, as part of a wide-ranging Cabinet reshuffle. His comments come as Theresa May appoints a new minister at the Brexit Department specifically in charge of preparations for a no-deal Brexit, as part of a wide-ranging cabinet reshuffle.
A European Commission spokesperson said that the EU had “for months now been busy on planning for all possible outcomes”.A European Commission spokesperson said that the EU had “for months now been busy on planning for all possible outcomes”.
Commenting on the meeting between Mr Barnier and Mr Farage, he added: “As you can imagine, the two men discussed the state of play or Article 50 negotiations.” Commenting on the meeting between Mr Barnier and Mr Farage, he added: “As you can imagine, the two men discussed the state of play of Article 50 negotiations.”
Following the meeting, Mr Farage said: “Mr Barnier clearly did not understand why Brexit happened. I left with the impression that it has not been previously explained to him that the Brexit vote was primarily about controlling mass immigration and democratic self-determination.Following the meeting, Mr Farage said: “Mr Barnier clearly did not understand why Brexit happened. I left with the impression that it has not been previously explained to him that the Brexit vote was primarily about controlling mass immigration and democratic self-determination.
“Unless Mr Barnier can compromise somewhat and be prepared to give on services and financial services, the calls to go out of the EU under WTO rules will increase.” “Unless Mr Barnier can compromise somewhat and be prepared to give on services and financial services, the calls to go out of the EU under WTO [World Trade Organisation] rules will increase.”
He added: “I wouldn’t say it’s a happy new year for the Brexit deal.”He added: “I wouldn’t say it’s a happy new year for the Brexit deal.”
Ahead of the meeting Mr Farage called for a referendum on the abolition of the House of Lords after he was criticised by Labour peer Lord Adonis, who wants Britain to remain in the EU. The move to emphasise the possibility of a hard Brexit on the UK side is the latest example of brinkmanship in the talks, which made headway in December after the Prime Minister worked around concerns from her Northern Irish allies, the Democratic Unionists, about the future of the province’s border.
The move to emphasise the possibility of a hard Brexit on the UK side is the latest example of brinkmanship in the talks, which made headway in December after the Prime Minister worked around concerns from her Northern Irish allies the DUP about the future of the province’s border. Economists have warned that a no-deal Brexit would be catastrophic for the UK economy.
Economists have warned that a no deal Brexit would be the most catastrophic for the UK economic, with the likely results the erection of tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade between Britain and its closest neighbours.  US think tank the Rand Corporation has said “no deal” could cost the UK $140bn (£103bn) over the next 10 years, while the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has put the figure at £40bn in 2019 alone due to sluggish economic growth.
US think-tank the Rand Corporation has said no deal cost the UK $140 billion (£103 billion) over the next 10 years, while the OECD has put the figure at £40 billion in 2019 alone due to sluggish economic growth. “Business investment would seize up, and heightened price pressures would choke off private consumption,” the OECD said.
“Business investment would seize up, and heightened price pressures would choke off private consumption," the OECD said.