The collapse of German coalition talks comes as No 10 was pinning its hopes on Berlin to serve unlock UK-EU negotiationsWithin hours of watching Angela Merkel fail to form a coalition,Theresa May hosts a cabinet committee that will test the weakness of her own fragile government. After months of prevaricating, it seems Britain is finally alert to commit itself to paying a divorce settlement with the EU of anything up to a €60bn (£53bn) in a desperate attempt to unlock the next stage of Brexit talks on a trade deal and transition phase. Germany had led the hardball negotiating tactics that pushed May into this corner, or but was expected to be – at least potentially – a more friendly ally when it came to discussing future free trade arrangements for its exporters. A weakened government in Berlin is less likely to be able win over more protectionist voices in the EU who have less to gain from an open border with Britain. Related: What does Germany’s political crisis mean for Brexit? | Martin Kettle Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com