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Louis Staples
Oct 08, 2019
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Getty Images / Twitter
Another day, another round of Brexit-related mayhem.
Today, Boris Johnson’s Brexit plan has reportedly been slapped down “personally” by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Merkel, one of the most influential figures in Europe, reportedly told Johnson that she could not accept his plans to fix the border issue between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Different accounts of the morning phone call have been reported and tweeted, but it’s fair to say that Brexiteers are furious.
Arlene Foster – arch opponent of Northern Ireland remaining in any form of Customs Union with the EU – quickly let her feelings known.
Arlene Foster says that Angela Merkel's comments have revealed the 'real objective of Dublin and the EU' 'The PM's… https://t.co/cRR1vnZPmV— Steven Swinford (@Steven Swinford) 1570529448
Toby Young then compared the negotiation to a nation surrendering after being defeated at war.
Other Brexiteers were quick to point the finger of blame at the EU.
Last time I looked, I don’t remember electing Angela sodding Merkel or Leo sodding Varadkar to run this country.… https://t.co/chAwPbITiw— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@Julia Hartley-Brewer) 1570529752
If the briefing from Number Ten re the phone call between the PM and Merkel is in any way accurate, this amounts to… https://t.co/BsWm0Zry32— Iain Dale ⚒️ (@Iain Dale ⚒️) 1570527773
Though Remainers weren’t having it, with many pointing the finger of blame at Boris Johnson and his Downing Street team.
The UK government’s attempt to shift the blame for the Brexit fiasco to anyone but themselves - today it’s Merkel -… https://t.co/MErwQ3MD6d— Nicola Sturgeon (@Nicola Sturgeon) 1570530494
The indivisibility of the EU when negotiating is so simple to understand that Angela Merkel only had to explain it… https://t.co/JQpqoi7WZ7— James Oh Brien (@James Oh Brien) 1570519489
There was also a dispute over the verifiability of the claims, with many pointing out it’s unlikely Merkel would behave how she was portrayed in earlier reports.
People accused Downing Street of leaking inaccurate versions of the exchange to spin the story to benefit Johnson.
Agreed. The interpretation runs completely counter to Merkel’s approach and style. https://t.co/brHn7FAeQs— jenny hill (@jenny hill) 1570529410
Who to believe on the Merkel call: the Times’ well-respected, pro-Brexit longtime Brussels journalist or a Downing… https://t.co/0GYtq6Rjhu— Stephen Bush (@Stephen Bush) 1570530563
This Number 10 lies all the time, like this White House. If you take its version of a call with Merkel at face valu… https://t.co/wuRvJo5DyX— Lewis Baston (@Lewis Baston) 1570530114
"Angela Merkel's comments" *as reported in completely implausible fashion by an unnamed 'No 10 source'*. Chanceller… https://t.co/VSNfQDn2vg— Tom Nuttall (@Tom Nuttall) 1570529593
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