'Nothing short of a failure!' Lee Anderson blasts Andrew Bailey after anti-Brexit speech

Andrew Bailey has joined with the growing chorus of voices urging Keir Starmer to unpick Brexit and return to Brussels' orbit following Donald Trump's election.

Speaking at the annual Mansion House speech last night, the Bank of England governor urged Rachel Reeves to "rebuild relations" with the EU, as he warned it had undermined the UK's economy.

Mr Carney, who spoke out against leaving the bloc during the 2016 referendum, said Brexit has "weighed" on the UK economy.

He also made a pointed dig at Donald Trump's plans to impose tariffs on foreign goods sold into the United States, describing himself as "an old-fashioned free trader at heart" and urged leaders to "remember the importance of openness".

His comments came at the same time as former French president Francois Hollande called on Keir Starmer to return to lead Europe following the victory of President-elect Trump.

Speaking in London on Thursday evening, the former French premier said that the PM "needs to position himself as a European leader, while not being in the European Union. This is what he must sell to the British public."

"Starmer is in a favourable position, one in which he needs to capitalise on the benefits, not only for the United Kingdom but also to the benefit of Europe."

His comments sparked a slap down by Reform UK's Lee Anderson, who told the Express that the Governor "has been nothing short of a complete failure".

The party's chief whip added: "This is the man who failed to see inflation coming and then was far too slow to react.

"Once again the failed establishment are trying to go over the same arguments that they have already lost.

"Parliament has failed to capitalise on the full potential Brexit has to offer but it's still far superior to membership of the European Union.

"It's high time people like Andrew Bailey finally accepted the democratic decision made by the country in 2016 and focussed on the day job instead."

President Trump's win has sparked a groundswell among anti-Brexit campaigners demanding Sir Keir now reverse aspects of the Tories' withdrawal treaty.

Last week LibDem leader Sir Ed Davey said that Keir Starmer should push for an immediate European conference on how the bloc can fill the gap in defence assistance if the US pulls financial support, or weakens its commitment to NATO.

He also said the UK must fix the "broken trading relationship left in tatters by the Conservatives", including acquiescing to Brussels' demand for a youth mobility scheme.

Despite Sir Keir's insistence he will not join any such free movement pact, it's reported that the EU is pressing ahead with its request for a youth mobility scheme regardless.

Official documents tabled for discussion yesterday [FRI] announced that the European Council still sees the debate as on the table.

Chair of the European Movement, Mike Galsworthy, warned that the Prime Minister "cannot keep saying 'no' to reality forever".

"Refusing even to look a gift horse in the mouth at this stage would seem short of acting in good faith."

However Priti Patel said that the EU's plan to press ahead with its youth movement demand is just "a return to freedom of movement by the back door"