Brexit German ambassador: second world war image of Britain has fed Euroscepticism Exclusive: Peter Ammon says some Brexiters were motivated by a sense of national identity built around UK standing alone Dr Peter Ammon, the outgoing German ambassador, called Brexit a tragedy. Photograph: Sarah Lee for the GuardianThe image of Britain standing alone in the second world war against German domination has fed Euroscepticism in the UK, but does little to solve the country’s contemporary problems, the outgoing German ambassador to London has told the Guardian. Ammon identified three illusions or concerns that needed to be addressed to prevent a breakdown in the talks, relating to the benefits of future UK free trade deals, the Irish border and the terms of a specific UK-EU free trade deal. “The idea that there is in future a bonanza or a pot of gold somewhere through free trade agreements with third parties seems fanciful,” he said. “The idea that you leave the customs union because the customs union would forbid you from entering separate free trade agreements with third countries concerns me.

Source: The Guardian January 29, 2018 16:52 UTC