The European Commission has shown it is prepared to play "hardball" by appointing a former French minister who reportedly holds a grudge against Britain as head of its Brexit negotiations.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commissioner, has announced the appointment of Michel Barnier, an arch-federalist, as Brussels' chief negotiator for the UK's exit talks with the EU.

As European Commissioner for internal markets in 2013 he attacked British eurosceptics for trying to negotiate a “pick and mix” approach to European financial services regulation while remaining in the EU.