As the government try to work out what ‘Brexit means Brexit’ really means ahead of triggering Article 50, an announcement today from the European Parliament is likely to send a shiver down the spine of No.10 officials.
Guy Verhofstadt, the MEP and former Belgian Prime Minister, has been appointed as the European Parliament’s lead Brexit negotiator. The outspoken Belgian will work with Michel Barnier, who is leading negotiations for the European Commission. Verhofstadt’s duties include helping prepare the EP position in the negotiations and — once Article 50 is triggered — helping to shape the EP’s negotiating position.
On the surface, this appointment does not appear to be great news for Theresa May. Verhofstadt — who leads the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe parliamentary group — was completely opposed to Brexit and compared David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage to ‘rats fleeing a sinking ship’ after the result.
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