'Keep calm and continue': MEPs back move to second phase of Brexit talks
A resolution which includes a slap-down of David Davis is passed as Nigel Farage brands the PM 'Theresa the appeaser'.
Wednesday 13 December 2017 16:09, UK
MEPs have backed the progression of Brexit talks, as the EU's chief negotiator warned there was "no going back" on the deal struck so far.
The politicians in Strasbourg voted by an overwhelming majority - 556 to 62 - for phase two discussions to begin on future UK-EU relations.
Sky News understands all 18 British Conservative MEPs were whipped to abstain.
In the lead-up to the vote, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier praised Prime Minister Theresa May for being "courageous and respectable" - switching from his native French into English to say: "Let's keep calm and continue."
But Mr Barnier warned that upcoming talks will be "difficult, very tough, because the issues are extremely complicated and because the consequences of Brexit are very serious".
He added the UK could not renege on the deals struck on citizens' rights, the Northern Irish border and the so-called "divorce bill".
The resolution passed by MEPs contained a slap-down of David Davis, saying the Brexit Secretary's description of the agreement as a "statement of intent" risked undermining talks.
Before the vote, former UKIP leader Nigel Farage branded the Prime Minister "Theresa the appeaser", saying she had "given in on virtually everything" during the "ritual humiliation" of last week's dawn meeting in Brussels.
A European Parliament spokesperson stressed the vote did not guarantee it would back the final Brexit deal, over which it holds a veto.
EU leaders will meet later this week and are likely to formally approve talks on trade.
However, Mr Barnier appeared to be laying the groundwork for a lengthy delay between the agreement passing and negotiations beginning.
He said: "There will be internal preparatory work that will need to be done with respect to our future relations with the UK."