Tim Farron 'spent more time on World Cup chart' than David Davis in EU talks

Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has claimed he “spent more time filling in his World Cup chart” than David Davis did with EU Brexit negotiators.

Mr Farron made the claim in the Commons after revelations that the former Brexit Secretary had held only four hours of talks with Michel Barnier in the first half of 2018.

The pair were reported to have met in London in February, in Brussels in March and again at the EU capital in June.

Mr Farron, speaking in a Lib Dem opposition debate on the need for a second referendum on the final Brexit deal, said: “It strikes me that we have become the kind of cliche for a Mediterranean country over the last few weeks, with this incredible weather and on the one hand good at football and on the other chaotic in our politics.

“I know also in the chaos of the last 48 hours many things have been revealed, not least that the now former Secretary of State for Exiting the EU spent a grand total of four hours this year negotiating the deal with Michel Barnier.

“Can I inform the House that I have therefore spent more time filling in my World Cup chart than the Secretary of State formerly for Exiting the European Union spent doing his job?”