Theresa May and Angela Merkel set to clash over Brexit

Angela Merkel and Theresa May.

BRITAIN and Germany are on a collision course. Respective leaders Theresa May and Angela Merkel gave forceful speeches on what Brexit should mean for their countries which, taken to their logical conclusion, would suggest a comprehensive, and acrimonious, divorce.

At the Conservative party conference May gave a rousing populist speech to members, describing the referendum result as a “quiet revolution” where “people voted for change”. Central to that change will be immigration reform, which May made clear was the chief motivation for the majority of pro-Brexit voters.

Divisions remain in the party. Home Secretary Amber Rudd announced plans to “name and shame” businesses that don’t take on British staff, while Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson told immigrant workers “this is your home” and welcomed their social and economic impact.

 In Germany Angela Merkel told business leaders that the EU could not allow any exceptions to single market rules, which hinge on accepting the free movement of peoples. Allowing the UK to curb immigration while retaining single market access would represent “a systemic challenge for the entire European Union” she told the influential conference. 

Industry leaders have made it clear that Germany considers its trade with the wider 27-member bloc to be far more important than bilateral business with the UK. Merkel urged all business leaders to “support the principle of “full access to the single market only in exchange for signing up to the four freedoms”.

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Comments


    • Mike in ESP

      06 October 2016 • 21:04

      Quote:

      The challenge for the entire European Union is continuing with this line of thought! This will bring the EU’s downfall faster as this line of thought is totally out of date today, sounds like a great idea… just like the Euro does… until you think about how they can’t work, neither line of thinking will work!

    • Drew Edgar

      07 October 2016 • 22:49

      No foreign government will dictate to the sovereign British Parliament and peoples what the may or may not do!

      The nightmare of despots such as Napoleon & Hitler will always be opposed by the United Kingdom.

    Comments are closed.