Michel Barnier, the former Brexit negotiator for the EU, told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that the UK is unable to "cherry pick" elements of the EU single market. Barnier stated that there is no "single market à la carte" menu available for the UK to choose from.
Barnier, who served as the head of the EU delegation during Brexit talks from 2016 to 2021 and spent three months as French prime minister in 2024, noted that the "door is open" for the UK to rejoin as an EU member. However, he insisted that any move to rejoin the single market—which facilitates the free trade of goods without border controls—would require the UK to adhere to the same terms as other members. This includes compliance with regulations for the "four freedoms": the circulation of goods, services, capital, and people. Barnier stated, "There will be no possibility to have one freedom and not the other. The four freedoms are clearly the four conditions to be inside a single market."
The comments follow statements by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who has suggested rejoining the internal market as an option for reshaping ties since the UK's exit nearly six years ago. Since becoming prime minister in July, Burnham has indicated a willingness to pursue a much closer relationship with Europe, including the possibility of rejoining as a full member, though he has ruled out major changes before the next election.
Barnier also predicted that EU countries would reject the reinstatement of the British financial rebate, which was first negotiated in 1985 to lower UK contributions to the EU budget. He said the UK's departure created "a new situation," making a new rebate "off the table."
Regarding domestic politics, Barnier compared Reform leader Nigel Farage to French politician Marine Le Pen, stating, "We have our own Farage. It is Mrs Le Pen. The same populism, the same lies, the same false promises." When asked to clarify his accusation of lies, Barnier pointed to the promises made by Farage and Boris Johnson regarding the £350 million per week figure, calling it "not true, it was not possible. It was a lie."
The £350 million figure was a central part of the Vote Leave campaign, which Boris Johnson championed. In 2017, Johnson claimed that once accounts were settled, the UK would take back control of roughly £350 million per week for the NHS. Critics argued this was a "gross contribution" that ignored the UK's £75 million-a-week rebate and EU investments in the UK. Johnson defended the figure in 2024, stating it was an underestimate as contributions were due to rise, while noting in his memoirs that EU money spent in the UK was not "democratically controlled by the British people."
Nigel Farage, who led Leave UK and was not part of the Vote Leave campaign, responded to Barnier by calling him "arrogant, out of touch and a bully," claiming Barnier "vindicates our decision to leave every time he opens his mouth."
Burnham's immediate predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, ruled out re-establishing the free movement of people for the UK in Labour's 2024 election manifesto. While Burnham recently said he would not re-establish free movement of people without a referendum, Downing Street clarified he is not advocating its return at this point. Both the UK and EU are currently hoping to use a meeting in Brussels in 10 days' time to unveil deals on food standards, youth visas, and the carbon trading regime.
