EU will be making a major mistake if it tries to ‘punish’ the UK for Brexit, London Mayor Sadiq Khan warns in Brussels address

SADIQ KHAN has warned the EU not to "punish" Britain for leaving the union - because it would hurt them too.

The London Mayor, speaking in Brussels on the final day before Article 50 is triggered, warned chiefs they would be making a "major mistake" if they tried to push the UK into a bad deal.

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He said that a bad deal, or no deal at all, would be a "lose-lose" situation which would hurt workers and businesses across the continent.

The London Mayor said: "There's no need - as some have suggested - for the EU to send a message - or to instil fear - by punishing the UK.

"A bad Brexit deal that hurts London would hurt the European Union too."

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Mr Khan met with Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's Brexit negotiator - who when asked if he intended to punish Britain in talks said: "Not at all".

And the London Mayor argued that there was no need for the EU to appear to play hardball "because a proud, optimistic and confident institution does not secure its future through fear".

He remained optimistic that the Union would survive after the "turning point" of Brexit, and urged the UK to maintain good relations.

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In a final warning before Theresa May triggers Article 50 tomorrow, he told chiefs that London was "the single most important organ for growth across Europe" and Brussels needed it to thrive.

He also stepped up calls for the Government to give a "cast iron guarantee" to EU nationals on their right to remain in Britain after we quit the block.

Mr Khan said that the offer to 3 million EU nations, would be "the perfect gesture of goodwill" and called on the EU to follow suit for the rights of Brits abroad. Mrs May has said she won't guarantee their rights until other EU countries guarantee the rights of Brits too.

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The PM will officially start our divorce talks tomorrow when she informs the EU Council of our intention to leave the bloc by triggering Article 50.

In the final day before the proceedings get underway, Mr Khan will go on to meet Jean-Claude Juncker, the EU Commission President.