The second round of Brexit negotiations are underway and the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier and Brexit Secretary David Davis will continue discussions on the “divorce deal”. As agreed, the separation will be finalised before work commences on a potential trade agreement and the tone of the divorce will, without a doubt, impact the manner in which the subsequent talks are held.

In recent months I’ve spent time at the European Parliament speaking to politicians and it is becoming increasingly clear that Davis and Theresa May are rubbing their European counterparts up the wrong way.

In one conversation with a member of the EU Parliament’s Brexit steering committee they pointed out how Davis was “clueless” when it came to how the EU actually operates. The Brexit Secretary had previously claimed Britain would strike a unilateral trade deal with Germany – something which is of course impossible under the terms of EU membership. For a man who was once Europe Minister, and now responsible for the entire negotiation process, this ill-advised comment damaged the credibility of Britain’s reputation as effective negotiators.

No other countries will follow Britain in leaving the EU, says David Davis

Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator told me that the only way to describe the current negotiating strategy was “chaotic”, while Seb Dance MEP, informed me May and Davis were antagonising their European counterparts with unrealistic and brash statements. One of their colleagues, Richard Corbett MEP, added that Europe was “fed up to the teeth” with Britain and that our attitude and lack of professionalism thus far during the negotiations was not leaving a good impression. If we’re hoping to get a good trade deal, poisoning the atmosphere and destroying any goodwill during the divorce negotiations is certainly not the way to do it.

May’s initial proposals and meetings have also not been particularly well received by the press either. Her discussion with Jean Claude Juncker at Downing Street, which was described as “constructive” by the UK government, was slammed in the German media. In a leaked document there were claims that Juncker thought May “lived in another galaxy” and was “deluding herself”. Although this was dismissed as “Brussels gossip” by May’s team, the idea that Britain is incompetent is resonating across Europe.

The argument usually given to defend May and Davis is that we are negotiating with Europe and not trying to make friends. They shouldn’t be impressed with what we have to say and if anything the reaction from the continent proves all is going well. If we deviate from our approach now, Europe will have the upper-hand and punish Britain for leaving the EU to ensure the stability of the trade bloc.

In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier listens at the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty Images In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, delivers his speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg EPA In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcomming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Michel Barnier, European Chief Negotiator for Brexit reacts during a meeting at the European Parliament in Strasbourg EPA In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Member of the European Parliament and former leader of the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage wears socks with Union Jack flag at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty Images In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Nigel Farage, United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) member and MEP, addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcoming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier gestures during speeches at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions The President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker (L) speaks with European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcomming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Member of the European Parliament and former leader of the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage gestures during speeches at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on April 5, 2017. The European Parliament will on April 5 lay down its "red lines" for negotiations over a Brexit deal, on which the assembly will have the final say in two years' time. / AFP PHOTO / Sebastien BozonSEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivers a speech during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions The European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France Getty Images

This could not be further from the truth and even Davis himself has said he doesn’t believe any other European nation will choose to follow Britain’s route in leaving the EU. I asked Urmas Paet MEP, the former Foreign Minister of Estonia, whether there was any chance the Brexit deal will intentionally make an example of Britain and he told me that “Brexit was punishment enough”. Sadly, he has a point. Since the referendum we have gone from the fastest growing economy in the G7 to the slowest, international investment flowing into Britain has fallen and the sterling has lost 11 per cent of its value. The markets are punishing us enough as it is, so Europe doesn’t need to.