Leave campaigners mocked for handing EU negotiator hamper full of ‘British’ products opposed to Brexit A delegation of Leave campaigners were left red-faced on Wednesday after they handed the EU’s chief negotiator a hamper packed […]

A delegation of Leave campaigners were left red-faced on Wednesday after they handed the EU’s chief negotiator a hamper packed with British items produced by businesses worried about Brexit.

The group presented Michel Barnier with a basket of “fantastic products from Britain” in an attempt to raise awareness of the “powerful position” Britain holds globally.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Leave Means Leave co-chairman John Longworth said he would tell Mr Barnier that any post-Brexit trade deal must not restrict the UK’s “economic and regulatory freedom”.

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Brexit metaphor

He said he would tell the Brussels official that unless progress on a deal is made by the middle of the year, the UK could walk away from talks and revert to World Trade Organisation rules.

But the group, which also included ex-CBI chief Lord Jones of Birmingham, Labour Leave chairman John Mills and MEP Stephen Woolf, was accused of an embarrassing gaffe for the products it included.

Contained in the hamper were Marmite and PG Tips, which are owned by Unilever. The Anglo-Dutch company has been a critic of Brexit and has delayed choosing where to locate its new headquarters due to the referendum decision.

Hendrick’s Gin producer has moved its base to Dublin, while Fortnum and Mason has warned that Brexit has damaged Britain’s brand.

The move was ridiculed on social media and in Westminster. Caroline Lucas, Green MP and supporter of pro-EU group Best for Britain, said: “They have taken products to Barnier for a cheap stunt but helped made his case that Brexit will damage businesses and more importantly jobs in the UK.

“This hamper is a metaphor for the disaster that Brexit will be.”

Peak Brexit

Francis Grove-White, Deputy Director of Open Britain, added: “We have reached peak Brexit. Self-important charlatans marching around Brussels with hampers of quintessentially British products, many of which are owned by companies that have said they are deeply worried about the impact of Brexit, does nothing to further the national interest.”

Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said: “This is a wonderfully cack-handed attempt to hamper relations with the EU’s chief negotiator.”

Following the meeting, Mr Barnier’s adviser Stefaan de Rynck, tweeted that the Dorset cheese enjoyed “EU protected origin” status.