JACOB REES-MOGG has blasted The European Union and said it would be wrong to “kowtow” to Michel Barnier’s tune on the Brexit transition period.
EU ministers set out guidelines on what Britain must do in order to secure a transition period after leaving the European Union on Monday demanding that Britain “Brexit in all but name” and continue to follow EU rules with no say on legislation.
Speaking to left-wing Channel 4 News, Rees-Mogg said: “I expect the Government to be able to negotiate successfully.”
He said the EU’s list of demands is an “opening gambit” in negotiations and not written in stone.
Mr Rees-Mogg said: “This is a negotiation. In any negotiation, you offer a counter-proposal. You say you’re asking for acceptance for new EU laws.
“We are saying that is something we can’t do. And then you come to an agreement.”
Mr Rees-Mogg said it was a “statement of the obvious” as he admitted he would vote against the transitional deal if it is not in the public interest.