Don't threaten to withdraw security cooperation in Brexit negotiations, UK warned.

Claude Moraes said cooperation on security 

and defence ‘was not a question of politics, 

it’s a question of reality’. 

Photograph: Luke Macgregor/Reuters

British MEP says it is not feasible to threaten to cut intelligence ties following veiled warnings from Theresa May.

The British government should steer clear of using Britain’s crime-fighting and espionage expertise as a bargaining chip in Brexit negotiations, a leading MEP has said.

Claude Moraes, a Labour MEP for London who chairs the European parliament’s influential civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee, said the UK would not be able to withdraw from cooperation on security and defence, because working with European neighbours benefitted both sides.

“It is not going to be a question of politics, it is a question of reality,” Moraes said.

“[Security] is an area of strength for the UK, but it should not be overstated in the negotiations, because we would be understating the contributions of other countries and many of these things can be mutually beneficial.”

Jennifer Rankin

Full story at The Guardian.