European Union has appointed Belgian Didier Seeuws, a longtime aide to former EU President Herman Van Rompuy, to head the union’s special task force to negotiate Britain’s exit. Preben Aamann, spokesman for current EU President Donald Tusk confirming the name of Seeuws, yesterday said there is a task force which will handle all negotiations.

The spokesman said Mr Seeuws was currently doing preparatory work, with the negotiations yet to get underway pending a British decision to formally inform the council that it wanted to leave the European Union.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, announcing his resignation after the vote had said he would leave the negotiations to his successor, expected to take office in October.

European Parliament President Martin Schulz yesterday said that Mr Cameron’s decision to wait until October to leave was scandalous and tantamount to taking the whole European continent hostage.