Brexit secretary urges EU negotiator Michel Barnier to seek new ‘mandate’ from leaders

Stephen Barclay says ‘political realities’ have changed since negotiations began and EU must recognise ‘fundamental shift’

Stephen Barclay has called on Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, to seek a new “mandate” from member states if he wants to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

The Brexit secretary warned Mr Barnier that no deal was “coming down the tracks” and said the “political realities have changed” since negotiations began.

He urged the EU to give its negotiating team permission for “a change of approach”.

The move is likely to be seen as the latest in a series of hardline interventions from government ministers designed to convince the EU to reopen Brexit negotiations.

Boris Johnson wants to secure a new withdrawal deal with changes to the controversial Irish backstop, but has ramped up planning for no deal in an attempt to convince the EU that the UK is serious about leaving without an agreement if necessary.

With less than three months until the 31 October Brexit deadline, Mr Barclay urged Mr Barnier to ask EU leaders to give him more room to negotiate a new deal.

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, he said: “EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier is telling us his instructions from European leaders mean he cannot change it. As he told me when we spoke last week, his mandate is his mandate – he can only negotiate what the Commission and leaders of member states have agreed.

“But the political realities have changed since Mr Barnier’s instructions were set. Since the last mandate was agreed, 61 per cent of all the EU states’ MEPs have changed. Such a fundamental shift illustrates the need for a change of approach.

“Mr Barnier needs to urge EU leaders to consider this if they too want an agreement, to enable him has called on EU leaders to give their chief negotiator the mandate to re-broker an agreement, otherwise no-deal ‘is coming down the tracks’.”

The warning came as a leaked government document warned of a crisis in the education system in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The Department for Education memo, obtained by The Observer, said schools may have to close, lunches for pupils may run out, and exams may be disrupted.

The document says: “Risk of travel disruption could result in school and early years settings closures, pupil and staff absence and exam disruption.”

In the event of a no-deal Brexit, it said, ”border disruption and tariffs could lead to shortages of some fresh produce, reductions in choice and price rises” and fears of shortages could trigger, “undue alarm or panic buying among the general public”.

Angela Rayner, Labour’s shadow education secretary, said: ”This document lays bare the potential consequences of a disastrous no-deal Brexit for our schools and nurseries, and the parents and children who rely on them.

“By the government’s own admission, head teachers may be left unable to feed their pupils or forced to close their doors entirely.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: ”We are confident provision for schools will be protected in the event of the UK having to leave the EU without an agreement and there are robust contingency plans in place to ensure schools are prepared in all eventualities.”