UK-EU: Ex-German Chancellor Merkel 'Tormented' by Brexit 'Humiliation,' UK Seeks New EU Negotiator

Facts

• Extracts from Angela Merkel's autobiography Freedom, due to be published on Tuesday, state that the former German Chancellor was 'tormented' by the UK's decision to leave the EU in what she considered a 'humiliation' and 'disgrace' for the European bloc.^[1][2]
• Merkel served as chancellor for four terms from 2005-2021. The excerpt further claims that despite trying 'wherever possible' to aid then-Prime Minister David Cameron, Merkel could not 'fulfill all of [his] wishes for a British special path' in the EU.^[3][4]
• The ex-chancellor also alleged that the origins of Brexit began in 2005 when Cameron pledged during his Tory leadership campaign to leave the European People's Party, describing the decision as a 'miscalculation from the very start.'^[5][2]
• The UK government posted a job opening last weekend for a new EU negotiator, to be tasked with overseeing a 'reset' in relations with the bloc. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously claimed he would seek a replacement Brexit deal to the one negotiated in 2020.^[6]
• The Second Permanent Secretary to European and International Economic Affairs will earn between £153K and £200K (US$192K and $251K) and would, among other duties, 'prepare and lead negations with the EU on key UK interests,' though will also face 'significant public scrutiny.'^[7]
• The current UK-EU trade deal is set to be reviewed in 2026. PM Starmer has previously ruled out a UK return to the single market or customs union following the result of the 2016 referendum.^[8]

Sources: ^[1]The Telegraph, ^[2]Independent, ^[3]The Times, ^[4]Encyclopedia Britannica, ^[5]Express.co.uk, ^[6]BBC News, ^[7]Civil Service Jobs and ^[8]Verity.

Narratives

• Left narrative, as provided by Inews.Co.Uk and The New European. Merkel's extract from her upcoming autobiography clearly conveys that the disaster of Brexit has been felt on both sides of the English Channel. While Starmer remains adamant that rejoining the EU is not an option, it is clear that a return to the single market and customs union is exactly what the new UK government needs to truly rebuild ties and deliver the economic growth it has promised.
• Right narrative, as provided by Spiked and Europeanconservative. Merkel's legacy will rightly be remembered as one of failure. While nations like Germany continue to grapple with poor growth and raging immigration born from nearly two decades of disastrous EU establishment decisions, Starmer remains hellbent on defying the will of the British people and rejoining the failed European project in order to achieve purely ideological goals.

Predictions