The prime minister has promised to speak “frankly and openly” to Angela Merkel about Brexit when the two women meet today for the first time.
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“Donald Tusk reassured the Prime Minister that he will help to make this process happen as smoothly as possible”, she said.
“These visits will be an opportunity to forge a strong working relationship that we can build upon and which I hope to develop with more leaders across the European Union in the weeks and months ahead”.
Jim Charlesworth has no doubts about the abilities of his local MP and neighbour Theresa May.
“She will be the best prime minister this country has ever known”, the 69-year-old said.
May will have a meeting and a working dinner with Merkel.
After Berlin, the Prime Minister will travel to Paris for talks on Thursday evening with President Hollande who, like Chancellor Merkel, is facing re-election next year.
“The Prime Minister explained that we will need to carefully prepare for the negotiations to leave the European Union before triggering Article 50”, she said, referring to the formal legal process for leaving the bloc. But, she said, “we must also negotiate the right deal and the best deal on trade in goods and services for the British people”. “She will be anxious to convey that she’s not a soft touch”.
“The Prime Minister has thought about it since taking office and recognises that the United Kingdom will be busy with the negotiations to leave”, said Mrs May’s spokeswoman, adding: “She wants to have a constructive relationship with the European Union and wanted to make that offer early”.
May responded: “Little did the voters of north west Durham know that the two unsuccessful candidates in that election would become leaders of two of this country’s political parties”.
A majority of MPs in the House of Commons are in favour of Britain remaining in the EU.
Mrs May told the Cabinet that her visits to Berlin and Paris in the coming days would be an “opportunity” for discussions about Brexit but insisted the Government would not be defined by the UK’s exit from the EU.
He is keen to dampen the popularity of Marine Le Pen and her far-right National Front, which wants a French “Frexit”.
The announcement came ahead of the bilateral meeting between Theresa May and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday.
“I’m very clear, Brexit does mean Brexit”, she said.
“He will want to impress upon May that she can not string this along indefinitely or expect great gifts from France because Hollande has domestic politics to think about and he will want to avoid “encourager les autres” (encouraging others)”.
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Downing Street said it would “take some time” to prepare for the Brexit negotiations, as the government needed to consult with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and with industry sectors to determine the objectives for post-departure relations with the EU.
