THE boss of a powerful group of global statesmen has been secretly helping anti-Brexit campaigners meet with Brussels, The Sun can reveal.

Bombshell emails reveal the former head of the United Nations Kofi Annan has been covertly lobbying the EU’s chief negotiator about the pro-EU “Best for Britain” campaign.

4 Former head of the UN Kofi Annan has been lobbying the EU Credit: EPA

The Ghanaian diplomat — who now heads up a group of ex-international leaders called The Elders — briefed Michel Barnier on the foreign-backed campaign to try stop the UK leaving next year.

Last night Brexiteers accused the former UN Secretary General of trying to undermine Theresa May’s exit talks.

The Elders were set up in 2007 by ex-Genesis singer Peter Gabriel and Richard Branson and was originally chaired by Nelson Mandela.

They claim to ”represent an independent voice, not bound by the interests of any nation, government or institution” in the “shared interests of humanity”.

4 Michel Barnier is said to have been briefed by the diplomat on the foreign-backed campaign Credit: EPA

It is made up of ten ex-Presidents like America’s Jimmy Carter and international figures like Mr Annan.

In April they sparked controversy by suggesting that Brexit risked bringing violence back to Northern Ireland.

But today the role played by Mr Annan in directly reaching out to Brussels behind the scenes is revealed by emails seen by The Sun.

Best for Britain is funded by Hungarian American hedge fund billionaire George Soros and is campaigning to stop the UK leaving the EU next year.

4 Anti-Brexit group Best for Britain is chaired by Lord Malloch Brown Credit: Getty - Contributor

It is chaired by former Labour minister Mark Malloch Brown — who Kofi Annan suggested Mr Barnier meet with after “kindly raising” the work of the campaign with the top Eurocrat.

Lord Malloch Brown then wrote to Mr Barnier in February as “Kofi said you had indicated a willingness to meet.”

On Monday Lord Malloch Brown sparked uproar by comparing Brexit to turning a blind eye to Hitler and the Nazis in the 1930s.

Best for Britain supporters Chuka Umunna and Andrew Adonis were later granted a private meeting in Brussels — but the Labour peer did not attend one as Mr Barnier stressed how busy he is with the divorce talks.

4 Iain Duncan Smith blasted the move saying it was 'for the benefit of people outside of Britain' Credit: Getty - Contributor

Last night Best for Britain confirmed the role played by Mr Annan, saying: “Mark used to work with Kofi when he was Deputy General Secretary of the UN. Barnier is a mutual acquaintance.”

A source added: “Barnier met Best for Britain supporters in recent months.”

But former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith told The Sun: “This tells you all you need to know about the Best for Britain campaign.

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“It is nothing to do with Britain, but instead focused on people outside of Britain for the benefit of people outside of Britain.”

The Brexiteer added: “It is classically anti-Brexit and it is time for citizens of nowhere and everywhere to stop interfering with British politics.

“Stay out of it, and stop trying to overturn the democratic will of the British people.”