Born in 1951, Michel Barnier is the younger of the two, but only by three years. Where there are greater differences is in terms of when they went into politics. Barnier graduated from the ESCP European Business School in Paris and was elected at the age of 27 as Member of the French National Assembly. Davis, on the other hand, pursued a career in business before being elected MP for the Boothferry constituency in 1987 at the age of 38.
Barnier, who twice served as a European commissioner (internal market and services, 2010-2014, and regional policy and institutional reform, 1999-2004) most recently held the post of security and defence special
adviser to the commission’s president. Over in France, Barnier had held ministerial posts in agriculture (2007-2009), foreign affairs (2004–2005), European affairs (1995-1997), and the environment (1993-1995).
Before being appointed Brexit chief on July 14 by new UK prime minister Theresa May, David Davis—a strong privacy advocate—most recently sat on the Commons’ back benches as he campaigned against the then-home secretary’s so-called Snoopers’ Charter. Prior to that, he held senior positions when the Conservative Party was the main opposition to New Labour. He was shadow home secretary (2003-2008), shadow lord chancellor and shadow justice secretary (2002-2003), and foreign minister (1994-1997) during the Tories’ wilderness years. Since May 1997, Davis has been the MP for Haltemprice and Howden. λ
