Up to Britain to choose its course on Brexit, says European Union's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier

The European Union's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Friday that it was up to Britain now to choose its course on its planned withdrawal from the bloc and that the EU was united and ready for an orderly departure.

"EU-27 stand united and ready for orderly Brexit," Barnier tweeted during a visit to Malta. "For the UK now to make its choices."

Britain's ruling Conservatives and the main opposition party Labour both lost support in local elections on Thursday in what politicians on both sides said was a reflection of voters' anger at a stalemate over how and even whether Brexit will happen.