Chancellor George Osborne pushed the German government into stressing the “irreversible” nature of a Brexit vote, and warning of a lack of access to the Single Market
George Osborne asked Germany to stress the “irreversible” nature of a Brexit vote in the build up to last month's referendum, German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble has said.
Schauble warned in mid-June that “In is in. Out is out” when it comes to Single Market access, but he has now admitted he did following a request from the Treasury.
Speaking to Germany newspaper Die Welt this weekend, Schauble said: “George Osborne asked me to come to London to strengthen the 'Remain' camp and to show that a proposed referendum on United Kingdom membership of the European Union would be an irreversible step.
“Each voter had to know: Just who is a member of the club, the rules of the club has a say. That's why I said this sentence.”
A Treasury spokeswoman did not respond to request for comment.
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Schauble added that Europe need rapid progress following the Brexit vote in order to limit instability.
“We ask you: Decide – and quickly. Europe would be laughable if it would say after such a referendum, you have time, considered as long as you want. That will not do,” he said.
And the German also delivered a scathing verdict on Boris Johnson.
The former London mayor shocked Westminster by deciding not to run for the Conservative party leadership last week.
Schauble said he had never met Johnson, but added: “The way he has led this campaign does not meet my expectations of responsibility and seriousness.
“He and his camp have been the campaign lined with so many exaggerations and even lies that I was sometimes almost speechless.”