‘Nobody negotiates with the EU’: Yanis Varoufakis says the idea another leader could secure a better Brexit deal is ‘delusional’ The former Greek finance minister warned: ‘Once the European Union presents a deal on the table, it is take it or leave it’

Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis branded the idea another British Prime Minister could negotiate a better Brexit deal “delusional.”

Brexiteers and Jeremy Corbyn have all argued that a change in leadership is needed to secure a better deal with Brussels than the one Theresa May is finalising at present.

But the former Greek finance minister, who also negotiated with the European Union during the Greek debt crisis in 2015, said this is “delusional” due to the negotiators on the other side of the table.

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He told the BBC’s Newsnight: “Once the European Union presents a deal on the table, it is take it or leave it. There is no way it can be unpicked or that it will be somehow substantially changed either by Theresa May or by any other government.”

“Unless the British Government, whichever British Government goes for a Norway kind of off the shelf agreement, which is already there for the taking and which Theresa May, will live to regret [that] she did not opt for two years ago.”

No negotiations going on in Brussels

Branding politicians who think they could negotiate a better deal with Brussels “delusional” he said: “There are no negotiations going on in Brussels.”

“Nobody negotiates with the European Union. You heard the German federal minister of the economy.

“He said, ‘Oh, it has got nothing to do with me. It’s between the two parties.’”

“Who are the two parties? It is London and Brussels. Brussels comprises bureaucrats – bureaucrats are like software, like algorithms.”

“They have a checklist, Mr Barnier has no mandate to negotiate with Mrs May about anything of substance.”

He said that Theresa May had negotiated the best deal she could, but warned it is inferior to a Norway-style Brexit, that includes membership of the single market but reduced budget payments and less political integration.

Mr Varoufakis said: “I have to say that Mrs May got out of this negotiation the best deal she could get, within the constraints, self-imposed constraints, inane constraints of ending freedom of movement at some point and maintaining Irish unity.”

“But it is a terrible deal nevertheless. Far inferior to a Norway plus agreement, we could have had instead.”

Re-opening the deal

Earlier in the programme, German economy minister Peter Altmaier had warned of consequences if the withdrawal agreement was reopened.

He said: “My assumption is – and this applies to both sides of course – whenever you open the package you risk getting something you perhaps do not like.”

“Therefore I will do my utmost to avoid new demands from the side of the EU and our British partners will have to decide on their approach and their position.”

Brexiteer attempts to oust Theresa May through a vote of no confidence and replace her with a eurosceptic to lead negotiations with Brussels appear to have hit the rocks as they failed to muster the numbers needed to trigger a vote.

Jaco Rees-Mogg , who chairs a caucus of Brexiteer MPs told journalist as he announced his lack of confidence in the PM last week that “compromises were being made in a Remain direction.”

“What we need is a leader to say to the European Union, it is impossible to divide up the United Kingdom, it is impossible to agree to a situation where we have a perpetual customs union, it is impossible to pay £39bn of taxpayers’ money for a few promises which was meant to be £39bn for implementation of a deal, and it is impossible for us to allow the continuing jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice,” he said.