Angela Merkel slams EU referendum as a ‘needless risk’ but vows to stand by Cameron

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10 years ago

ANGELA MERKEL has branded the EU referendum an UNNECESSARY RISK – but will not speak out over fear of fuelling the Brexit campaign.

The German Chancellor has privately said Britain leaving the EU would be the “ultimate disaster” and is apparently on standby to join David Cameron’s Remain camp if wanted.However Remain campaigners have warned this could badly backfire and infuriate them because meddling EU leaders are often seen as acting in their own interests rather than Britain’s.

A source close to Mrs Merkel said next month’s historic EU referendum will “make us sweat until the last moment”.

Mrs Merkel is said to believe the prime minister only agreed to hold a referendum to placate Eurosceptic Tory politicians.

hey said: “It was a completely unnecessary risk that comes as a result of party politics rather than actual concerns for Britain’s best interests.“All eyes will be on Britain in June. Given the huge challenges Europe is facing at the moment, this extra instability is the last thing anyone needs.

Mrs Merkel apparently offered up her services for an Obama-style intervention to convince voters to stay in the bloc when she met with Mr Cameron for a G5 getting in Hannover last month.

A Remain campaigner told The Sunday Times: “Voters assume EU leaders want us to stay but they assume it’s in their interests for us to stay, not that it is in our interests.”

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The EU referendum will take place on June 23

http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/670496/Angela-Markel-EU-referendum-needless-risk-David-Cameron