The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has signalled a readiness to discuss the parameters of the free movement of people in the EU, suggesting there may be some room for manoeuvre on the issue in Brexit talks. Merkel said the EU could not divide its four freedoms – movement of goods, capital, people and services – to allow Britain to restrict immigration from the bloc while retaining tariff-free access to the market of almost 500 million people. But she opened a door to discussions on the framework of the free movement of people, in a potentially significant development for Britain, where controlling immigration was a big issue for many of the 52% of voters who backed leaving the EU. The prime minister has promised to trigger article 50 by the end of March. So far the bloc has portrayed the single market, which Britain may subsequently try to retain membership of, as a package of principles rather than a menu that Britain can pick and choose from.

Source: The Guardian November 16, 2016 00:00 UTC