MICHEL Barnier has said Theresa May’s Chequers plan for a Brexit deal would destroy the whole of the EU.

Brussels’ chief negotiator issued his most bitter criticism of the PM’s blueprint yet, issuing remarks that go far further than any EU leaders so far.

In a second controversial move, the veteran French politician also mounted an open push to persuade Britain to stay in a customs union.

He insisted the move – bitterly opposed by Mrs May - would mean “things would be much easier”.

Mr Barnier told German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: “If we let the British pick the cherries out of our rules, that would have serious consequences.

“Then all sorts of other third countries could insist that we offer them the same benefits.

“That would be the end of the single market and the European project.”

Mr Barnier also tried to hep more pressure on Mrs May by saying no extensions to the troubled talks are needed, adding: “We don’t need more time.

“What we need are political decisions.

“We know that the situation in the United Kingdom is complicated.”

No10 hit back last night to insist only the Chequers plan meets Britain and the EU’s joint ambitions.

A UK Government spokesperson said: “This proposal achieves a new balance of rights and obligations that fulfils our joint ambition to establish a deep and special partnership once the UK has left the EU while preserving the constitutional integrity of the UK.

“There is no other proposal that does that.”