Jean-Claude Junker holds head in hands as Nigel Farage attacks EU over Brexit negotiations

'It is clear that there are no lessons that are going to be learnt from Brexit'

Nigel Farage has launched another scathing attack on the EU following the European Commission president’s State of the Union speech, saying a “declaration of war” has been issued on any sensible Brexit negotiations.

A weary-eyed Jean-Claude Junker was seen holding his head in his hands as Mr Farage accused the European Parliament of already appointing its “divorce lawyers” by selecting Guy Verhofstadt as its chief Brexit negotiator.

Mr Verhofstadt, the former Belgian prime minister and leader of the liberal MEPs, has been unpopular with Brexiteers and previously stressed he would not agree to a Brexit deal that allowed Britain full access to the single market without retaining the free movement of people.

Following Mr Junker's call for Brexit talks to begin “as soon as possible” while speaking in Strasbourg, France on Wednesday, Mr Farage said: "In terms of Brexit, you're probably right to be slightly critical of the British government, who ought to get on with it.

"But the EU is getting on with it and you've already appointed your divorce lawyers. On behalf of the European Parliament, we've got Guy Verhofstadt. He's the man who is going to be negotiating Brexit.

"If you were to think of this building [the EU Parliament] as a temple, well, Mr Verhofstadt is the high priest. A fanatic. In fact, there is only really one nationalist in this room and it's you [Verhofstadt] because you want flags, anthems, armies... you are an EU nationalist.

"I frankly think that this appointment amounts to pretty much a declaration of war on any sensible negotiation process."

Mr Farage then turned his attack onto the president of the European Commission claiming he had learnt “no lessons” from Brexit.

"It is clear that there are no lessons that are going to be learnt from Brexit,” said Mr Farage.

"Indeed it was the usual recipe for more Europe and in this particular case of course more military Europe.

"I don't know about a project of peace. I would have thought this is probably a very dangerous move."

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, the former Ukip leader who prominently campaigned for Brexit said he expected Article 50 to be triggered as soon as January to start the formal process for Britain to leave the EU.

"There is no reason why it should [take several years]," Mr Farage said. "I hope you'll see Article 50 triggered, probably in January, and we'll be out of this in two years."

No deadline has been set by Theresa May's government but the Prime Minister previously said negotiations would not be started in 2016.

Mr Farage’s attack came after Mr Juncker urged Europe to unite following Britain’s shock Brexit vote and stressed that the “EU was not at risk”.

"Many are wondering whether Brexit is the beginning of the disintegration process of the EU," he said.

"Allow me to state, we respect and at the same time regret the UK's decision, but the EU as such is not at risk."

Mr Juncker also repeated previous assertions made by several EU leaders that Britain “could not have a la carte access” to the benefits of the EU after Brexit, and that the UK should trigger Article 50 "as quickly as possible".

Mr Juncker's “State of the Union” speech sought to ease tensions and rally support for the EU.

The speech has been heavily anticipated as the EU struggles with multiple crises, from the influx of refugees over the past year, multiple terror attacks and Britain's shock June referendum to leave the EU.