Brexit Party MEP Rupert Lowe has warned that the EU could be preparing to punish the UK if MPs vote for Boris Johnson’s deal. The Brexiteer businessman revealed that he held a secret meeting with Michel Barnier alongside other MEPs in Strasbourg last week. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Lowe claimed that Mr Barnier had refused to rule out punishing the UK, or taking advantage of the country, during the Brexit transition period.

He told BBC Sunday Politics: “The default position is that we leave with no deal, which is what I want to see.

“I am on the Brexit committee in Brussels and Strasbourg, and I went to a meeting for the Brexit committee last week, which wasn’t allowed to be taped.

“I asked Michel Barnier at this meeting, ‘if this treaty is signed what assurances will you give us that you won’t abuse the huge position of power it gives you during the transition period’.

“I didn’t get an answer on that. All we were told is that if you get divorced, you pay the price.”

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The MEP for the West Midlands continued: “As a big economy off-shore Europe, we would not be treated in the same way as Canada. There is a lot to be worried about.”

Mr Lowe later tweeted: “Even the most vociferous proponents of the new treaty admit the EU would have an enormous amount of influence over us.

“I asked Barnier at a secret Brexit committee meeting for assurances they would not abuse that power.

“I received none. No wonder they didn’t want it filmed!”

The MEP for the West Midlands also said: “Taking a no deal Brexit off the table was unbelievably stupid and naive.

“I’ve done deals across the world for decades and never seen anything like it.

“It handed all the power to Brussels!”

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The EU is currently debating whether to hand Britain another extension over Brexit amid continued deadlock in Westminster. 

Emmanuel Macron is known to be reluctant to delay the Brexit deadline again, with sources close to the French President insisting an extension was “not a given”.

During a meeting of EU diplomats this week, the French ambassador appeared to back Downing Street’s arguments that it was not the right time to agree a three-month delay.

The EU is expected to wait until Monday to decide on the extension length, after MPs vote on Boris Johnson’s push for a general election.

Mr Barnier confirmed earlier this week that a post-Brexit trade deal could take more than three years to agree.

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