Germany expects the UK to crash out of the European Union without managing to strike a deal, a leaked document from within the German government has reportedly revealed.
The memo, which was leaked from the German Finance Ministry, allegedly says that German officials have come to the conclusion through internal discussions that a turbulent and chaotic Brexit is now “highly likely.”
The report marks the first piece of decisive evidence that Berlin is likely willing to let London leave the EU without a deal rather than to back down to the demands of incumbent UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and negotiate a new withdrawal agreement that includes ditching the Irish backstop - a point that the EU has said repeatedly it refuses to renege on.
Germany now assuming there’ll be a no-deal Brexit. The country has passed 50 laws and other measures to prepare https://t.co/KYH1PqOeSl
— Holger Hestermeyer (@hhesterm) 15 August 2019
However, there could be a glimmer of hope for Remainers: the leaked document reportedly says that while Berlin does not expect a sudden volte-face on the part of Mr Johnson’s “hard negotiating position,” there is an expectation that he may open up a new line of discussions in the upcoming G-7 summit in France.
The referendum result must be respected.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) 15 August 2019
We will leave the EU on 31st October. #LeaveOct31
Moreover, reports say that the leaked document calls upon the remaining 27 EU member states to continue pushing the bloc’s current negotiating position - that forging a new deal outside of the one that was struck under the tenure of former British Prime Minister Theresa May is out of the question.
Considering that such news comes when Britain is negotiating under Boris Johnson’s “deal or no deal” and “do or die” mantras, concerns are only likely to spike on both sides of the English Channel that a no-deal Brexit is now all but inevitable.
Poland is now a more important trading partner for Germany than the UK. UK has dropped to 7th place since the Brexit ref. So much for "they need us more than we need them."
— Brexit Bin 🇪🇺 🇬🇧 #FBPE (@BrexitBin) August 13, 2019
🇪🇺✔ https://t.co/J1OFNQAnYn
There are however, those still fighting tooth and nail to avoid that outcome. This week Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn launched an ambitious plan to bring together a group of Tory Rebels, the Liberal Democrats, The Scottish National party and other opposition parties to topple Boris Johnson from power and delay Brexit beyond the October 31 deadline in order to avoid a no-deal outcome. Under such an arrangement and after ousting Boris Johnson from No.10 in a no-confidence vote, Mr Corbyn is reportedly hoping to become a “caretaker” Prime Minister on an interim basis until a new agreement is struck with the EU.
Labour's plan to stop a disastrous No Deal Brexit and let the people decide the future of our country. pic.twitter.com/uUhF5fyVtq
— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) 15 August 2019
Yet, Mr Corbyn’s lofty ambitions have been dealt a series of blows over the past few hours as it has become clear that senior Tory rebels who wish to prevent a no-deal Brexit, including by bringing down BoJo’s government, have ruled out supporting Corbyn’s bid for No.10. The former Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, who has said that he and link-minded colleagues are willing to work with Labour to thwart a no-deal Brexit, has ruled out facilitating Corbyn’s path to becoming the Prime Minister. Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, has also dismissed the plan as “a nonsense,” arguing that Corbyn doesn’t command strong enough cross-party support in parliament to become Prime Minister, even on a temporary basis.
Germany now predicts a WTO Brexit. After years of pushing around Theresa May, they've been forced to re-evaluate!
— Leave.EU (@LeaveEUOfficial) 15 August 2019
Merkel has done so much harm to her country, with a million migrants and her stubborn Brexit policy. Too bad - while Germany faces recession, we're going global!
The latest Brexit developments come as the UK’s deadline for settling an agreement with the EU, October 31, creeps closer and closer. Boris Johnson was swept to power by the Conservative party membership promising to abandon the deal made by former Prime minister Theresa May, particularly the issue of the contentious Irish backstop. Despite those pledges, he has so far failed to visit a single European capital, despite being in No.10 for over 20 days. The EU has continued to assert that, no matter what, it will not be renegotiating the UK’s departure agreement.
