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Michel Barnier has sparked a backlash for suggesting the UK abandoned the international fight against extremists by voting for Brexit.

The top EU negotiator said the UK “chose to be on their own again” when it voted for Brexit rather than stand in solidarity with the bloc following a wave of terror attacks in Europe.

Mr Barnier’s comments, made at a security conference in Berlin on Wednesday, come as both sides are closing in on a “divorce bill” settlement which is reported to reach nearly £50 billion.

Speaking about the referendum vote to leave the EU, Mr Barnier said: “It was a decision that came after a series of attacks on European soil, committed by young people who grew up in Europe, in our countries.

“It was a decision that came six months after the French minister of defence issued a call for solidarity to all his European counterparts to join forces to fight the terrorism of Daesh.

“Never had the need to be together, to protect ourselves together, to act together been so strong, so manifest.

“Yet rather than stay shoulder to shoulder with the union, the British chose to be on their own again.”

Hundreds of people were killed and many more injured during two high-profile attacks shortly before the EU referendum, including in Paris in November 2015 and the Brussels suicide bombings in March 2016.

Conservative MP James Cleverly was among the politicians who reacted to Mr Barnier’s comments. The backbencher tweeted: “I find myself having to disagree.”

According to the Mail Online, Tory MP Peter Bone said it was “outrageous” to hint that the UK was not taking a role in counter-terrorism.

“This is extraordinary even by Eurocrat standards,” he said.

Number 10 responded to Mr Barnier’s remarks, saying the UK Government planned to still play a “full part” in counter-terrorism, the BBC reported.

Key Brexit Players - In pictures 6 show all Key Brexit Players - In pictures 1/6 David Davis Reuters 2/6 Michel Barnier AP 3/6 Tim Barrow AFP/Getty Images 4/6 Oliver Robbins 5/6 Sabine Weyand 6/6 Didier Seeuws AFP/Getty Images 1/6 David Davis Reuters 2/6 Michel Barnier AP 3/6 Tim Barrow AFP/Getty Images 4/6 Oliver Robbins 5/6 Sabine Weyand 6/6 Didier Seeuws AFP/Getty Images

Britain has been carrying out air strikes against IS militants in Iraq and Syria.

In his speech, Mr Barnier said Europe is seeing an “unprecedented effort” to set up a Defence and Security Union.

He said: “And this Defence and Security Union will have to be developed without the British, since on March 30, 2019 the United Kingdom will, as is its wish, become a third country when it comes to defence and security issues.”

He said the UK will no longer be involved in decision-making or planning European defence and security and will no longer be a member of Europol.

“Everything I have just said is the logical consequence of the sovereign choice made by the British,” he said. “We regret this vote. But we respect the choice that has been made.”

On Wednesday, the PM was warned she could face a public backlash over the size of the divorce bill, which is rumoured to have been agreed at about £40 to £49 billion.

The “divorce settlement” is expected to be paid out over a period of many years despite Mrs May, who is on a visit to the Middle East, stressing in her January 2017 keynote Lancaster House speech that: “The days of Britain making vast contributions to the European Union every year will end.”

