The European Union will be making a major mistake if it tries to "punish" the UK for Brexit, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has warned in a keynote address in Brussels.

Mr Khan called for the EU to rise above the temptation to try to "instil fear" during the withdrawal negotiations.

He said: "Now is the time to be confident in the European Union, and to act with confidence. There is no need - as some have suggested - for the EU to send a message, or to instil fear, by punishing the UK.

"Because a proud, optimistic and confident institution does not secure its future by fear."

The intervention, the day before Prime Minister Theresa May is set to invoke Article 50 and formally trigger Brexit, was intended to put the "emotional" argument for a fair deal between the EU and UK.

Mr Khan used the address to stress that London will remain Europe's only global city after withdrawal, and that both sides need each other to boost their own prosperity.

"My city is not only the beating heart of Britain's economy, but the single most important organ for growth across Europe. I say this with friendship and all due respect - but a bad Brexit deal that hurts London would hurt the European Union too."

The mayor called on Mrs May to make a gesture of goodwill when she invokes Article 50 by guaranteeing the rights of some 3.3 million EU citizens in the UK.

He also urged citizens across the EU to push their leaders to conclude a fair deal with Britain that is in everyone's interest.

At the beginning of his speech, Mr Khan called for a moment's silence in honour of the victims of the Westminster terror attack.

In a question-and-answer session at the end of the address, he said Labour should be holding the Government to account "far better" on Brexit than it is as ministers need greater "scrutiny".

"One of the things Parliament should be doing - and that includes the official Opposition - is holding the Government to account far better than we have been. It's not a criticism of the leader of my party Jeremy Corbyn."

Mr Khan's address set the scene for a series of high-level meetings intended to push the message that London wants EU trade and investment after Brexit.

The mayor will be having talks with Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, European Parliament president Antonio Tajani, and the European Parliament's Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt.

Mr Khan was trying to reschedule a meeting with European Council president Donald Tusk after "unforeseen circumstances" saw talks planned for Monday cancelled.

The mayor then travels to Paris for talks with the French interior minister in the wake of the Westminster attack.

The move comes after the EU's security commissioner, Sir Julian King, said the atrocity in London showed that Europe needed to "work together" to counter terrorism.

ends Page 2: 08:33 When asked during a photocall with Mr Khan if he intended to punish Britain in the negotiations, Mr Verhofstadt said: "Not at all."

mfl Page 3: 09:51 After meeting Mr Khan, Mr Tajani said: "Parliament will play a key role in deciding the outcome of the negotiations. And as its president I will ensure that all positions will be fairly represented in this debate.

"We will all play a part towards achieving a fair and orderly divorce between the European Union and the United Kingdom.

"The parliament will ensure that the interests of our citizens will be protected.

"It should be clear that to be a member of the European Union cannot be the same thing as not being one. Nevertheless, after divorce we should work towards partnership with the United Kingdom."