Brexit: Leaving EU without deal would hurt UK more than Europe, says Donald Tusk

The EU Council President said that the EU's door would 'always remain open' after Brexit

The Council President also warned other EU nations not to form closer ties at the expense of others (EPA)

European Council President Donald Tusk has said that Britain leaving the EU without a trade agreement would be more damaging for the UK than for the rest of Europe.

"We will not be intimidated by threats that no #Brexit deal is good for UK & bad for EU. No deal bad for everyone, above all for UK," he said on Twitter.

He added: "Will do everything in my power to make sure that UK, EU are close friends after Brexit and stress that EU's door will always remain open."

He has previously been critical of plans among some of the remaining 27 countries to develop closer ties within the bloc at the expense of others, a point he reiterated this morning.

"Main objective is and must be to strengthen mutual trust, unity among EU27, not multi-speed," Mr Tusk said.

As chairman of the European Council, Mr Tusk chairs meetings between European leaders, and will be a key figure in negotiations between the UK and the EU which will begin when Theresa May triggers Article 50 to begin the UK's formal exit from the union, which is expected to happen before the end of March.

Political rivals in Mr Tusk's native Poland have warned that his re-election as EU council leader risks causing division among EU members.