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London mayor calls for new ‘Britzerland’ area

London Mayor Boris Johnson has captured attention in Switzerland with an idea to team up the Swiss and the British in a new political union outside the European Union.

London mayor calls for new 'Britzerland' area
Boris Johnson. Photo: Think London/Detail

Johnson floated his “Britzerland” idea this week in Weltwoche, a right-wing weekly German-language magazine based in Zurich.

The Tory politician, who has made known his distaste for Britain’s involvement in the EU, tells the magazine the two countries could found a new grouping.

It would be a fair trade area outside the EU that could trade with the EU under terms it helps shape but would otherwise be not involved in the “integrationist Brussels concept,” the magazine reported on Thursday.

Switzerland and Britain have every interest in creating a new area separate from the EU, Johnson said.

Other countries, notably Norway and Sweden, could join the area, he said.

Johnson has gone on record as saying it would not be the end of the world if Britain left the EU.

At the beginning of December he harshly criticized the Coalition government led by Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron for defending the strengthening of the EU to save the euro.

This, he said, was “intellectually dishonest and undemocratic”.

Johnson called for a referendum on Britain’s membership in the EU, while saying his country’s involvement in the union should be deeply pared back.

At that time he declared that Britain needed to be like Switzerland in its relationship with the EU.

His proposal for “Britzerland” takes the idea a step further.

He acknowledged, however, that Britain needed to renegotiate free trade relations with countries in the EU before pulling out of the union.

Johnson is particularly critical of Britain having to toe the line on EU policies governing such things as social issues and fisheries regulations.

The mayor, known for his unruly blond hair, also backed the Winter Olympics bid by St. Moritz and Davos and declared himself a fan of Roger Federer in the Weltwoche interview.

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ANGELA MERKEL

Anger as London accused of blaming Merkel for Brexit talks deadlock

EU leaders and politicians expressed anger on Tuesday accusing London of trying to pin the blame on German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the deadlock in Brexit talks between the EU and the British government

Anger as London accused of blaming Merkel for Brexit talks deadlock
Boris Johnson and Angela Merkel in Berlin in August. Photo: DPA

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was accused of playing a “stupid blame game” on Tuesday after Downing street sources appeared to blame German chancellor Angela Merkel for pushing the Brexit talks between Brussels and London to the brink of collapse.

After a phone call between Johnson and Merkel an anonymous Downing Street source briefed broadcast journalists in the UK, saying Merkel “made clear a deal is overwhelmingly unlikely and she thinks the EU has a veto on us leaving the customs union”.

“Merkel said that if Germany wanted to leave the EU they could do it no problem but the UK cannot leave without leaving Northern Ireland behind in a customs union and in full alignment for ever,” said the source.

“She said Ireland is the government’s special problem and Ireland must at least have a veto on NI leaving. Merkel said the PM should tell Northern Ireland it must stay in full alignment for ever but that even this would not eliminate customs issues,” the source said according to the Guardian newspaper.

“It was a very useful clarifying moment in all sorts of ways. If this represents a new established position then it means a deal is essentially impossible not just now but ever. It also made clear that they are willing to torpedo the Good Friday agreement.”

According to the BBC, the prime minister's office believes talks are now “close to breaking down”.

In Berlin, a spokesman for the German government confirmed the two leaders had spoken but said he would not comment on the content of the call.

But EU leaders and politicians in the UK slammed the briefing by a Downing Street source.

Donald Tusk, the European council president, tweeted directly at Johnson: “What’s at stake is not winning some stupid blame game. At stake is the future of Europe and the UK as well as the security and interests of our people. You don’t want a deal, you don’t want an extension, you don’t want to revoke, quo vadis? [Where are you going?]”

And Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The UK government’s attempt to shift the blame for the Brexit fiasco to anyone but themselves – today it’s Merkel – is pathetically transparent.”

The latest developments came after leaks from the European Commission showed major concerns from the EU about the UK's Brexit plan.

Johnson unveiled his new plan last week aimed at keeping Britain's border with EU member Ireland free-flowing after Brexit – a crucial issue in the divorce talks between Brussels and London.

It envisages keeping Northern Ireland aligned with the EU's single market regulations, but part of a UK-wide customs territory.

But this would mean customs checks on the Irish border, something the EU has long opposed.

READ ALSO: Merkel stresses EU unity as Britain sends new Brexit plan

The Downing Street source reportedly said that Tuesday's call was a “very useful clarifying moment in all sorts of ways”, with the result that “a deal is essentially impossible not just now but ever”.

Open evenings for Brits in Germany

It comes as uncertainty over Brexit and its implications continues for British nationals living in Germany.

A series of open evenings organized by the British Embassy and German authorities are being held throughout the country for Brits to ask questions about Brexit and how to prepare.

There are events in Frankfurt on October 10th, Hamburg on October 15th and Munich on October 24th.

Information evenings have already been held in Berlin and Düsseldorf.

The meetings are free and open to all interested UK nationals although registration is necessary.

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