French President Emmanuel Macron warns Theresa May that Britain will have to pay if the City wants full EU single market access
The French President's harsh words came despite a huge charm offensive by the PM during Brexit trade talks
EMMANUEL Macron warned Theresa May Britain will have to pay up if the City wants to retain full access to the EU’s single market after Brexit.
Despite a huge charm offensive by the PM at a day-long summit yesterday, the French president quipped: “Be my guest — but you must contribute.”
After talks at Sandhurst Military Academy — and lunch at a pub in Mrs May’s nearby constituency — Mr Macron said he was “here neither to punish nor reward” the UK over Brexit.
He said France and Britain would continue to thrive together regardless of the Referendum result.
Referring to the decision to loan the Bayeux Tapestry to the UK in 2022, he said: “We are making a new tapestry together.”
But he bluntly repeated the EU’s line that Britain needed to sign up to the single market and accept European laws if it wanted a post-Brexit deal on the financial services sector.
He said it was up to the UK Government to work out if it wanted a Norway-style deal — where the country is signed up to the single market — or a free trade agreement similar to that signed by Canada.
He added: “I want to make sure that the single market is preserved because that’s very much the heart of the EU.
“The choice is on the British side, not on my side. There can be no differentiated access to the financial services.”
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Big Mac for lunch
A MASTERCHEF winner cooked for May and Macron as the PM took the French leader to a gastro-pub.
Craig Johnston prepared dressed crab and duck at the Royal Oak in Mrs May’s Maidenhead constituency.
Mr Macron tweeted a video clip of him meeting French staff there.
Mr Macron is now seen as the most influential leader in the EU given German chancellor Angela Merkel’s difficulties in forming a new government.
Mrs May brought seven Cabinet ministers for the president’s first official UK visit.
Earlier the two leaders met the Coldstream Guards during a downpour at Sandhurst and watched a flypast by an RAF Typhoon and French air force Dassault Rafale.