Barnier says Britain can dodge euro for EU return, but free movement stays non-negotiable

Michel Barnier has a message for Britain: the euro is negotiable, free movement is not. The EU’s former chief Brexit negotiator told Sky News it would be “perfectly possible” to open rejoin negotiations without any obligation to join the euro. But he was blunt about the single market and customs union: no cherry-picking, no “à la carte” deal. Free movement, he said, remains non-negotiable.

Barnier’s comments, made in an interview with Cathy Newman, directly challenge a recent claim from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Farage has argued that if the UK reapplied to the EU, it would have to sign up to the euro. In reality, six of the EU’s 27 members don’t use the currency, Denmark has a formal opt-out, and precedents suggest a workaround is possible. All new member states are legally required to join the euro area, but Barnier said a new relationship could be negotiated without that obligation.

The timing puts Farage in the hot seat. He is holding a press conference at 2pm with Danny Kruger, who handles Reform UK’s government preparations. Reporters may press him on his eve-of-poll Trump prediction, which the Guardian says proved wrong, and on his euro claim now that Barnier has weighed in.

Elsewhere in UK politics, the Commons is on a mini-recess until Tuesday, and Andy Burnham is back from the Commonwealth summit. London mayor Sadiq Khan and Metropolitan police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley face questions from the London assembly at 10am. At noon, the Bank of England announces its interest rate decision, with rates expected to rise.