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The comments come as Barnier today promised the bloc will pursue its "most ambitious" approach when it comes to a future free trade agreement, saying that he is not considering the

possibility of a no deal exit.  But he also warned British banks they will lose crucial passporting rights with the rest of the EU as a "consequence" of Brexit. The EU chief

negotiator insisted there is no legal way that an exception can be made for the UK's massive financial services sector, mockingly throwing back Theresa May's insistence that

"Brexit means Brexit".  Mr Barnier made the remarks in a speech to the Centre for European Reform (CER) think tank in Brussels just moments before he was due to update EU ministers

on the progress of the Brexit talks to date.  The Frenchman delivered a hard-hitting address and typically blunt address which also included an ideological roadmap for the post-Brexit

future of the EU that appeared will further fuel talk of him becoming the next Commission president.