Theresa May plays hardball with Angela Merkel saying Brexit negotiations will not start until 2017
Even German Chancellor conceded Britain 'has to take a moment' before quitting
THE world's two most powerful women clashed for the first time last night as both vowed to play hardball on Brexit.
Theresa May made her first foreign trip since taking power a week ago to have dinner with Angela Merkel in Berlin.
The new PM hoped to begin thrashing out how Britain's EU walk out will work.
But while the long-serving German Chancellor told Mrs May to take her time, she gave her the cold shoulder by refusing “any formal or informal negotiations” until the UK had laid its cards fully on the table.
In a warning of the tough bartering between them to come, Mrs Merkel insisted: “I promise you from the German side we will certainly stand up for our interests – just as Britain does for its own citizens”.
“We’re listening to what exactly Britain wants and then we will give the answer.
“It is now up to the British Government to define how it wishes to see its future relationship with the EU.”
The words were seen as a snub to Mrs May, who had issued a call to Mrs Merkel before her arrival to "talk frankly and openly".
But Mrs May hit back to lay down the gauntlet on immigration.
While she said striking a free trade deal is important, the PM insisted there could be no compromise on the key issue for referendum voters.
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The Premier told Mrs Merkel: “It’s very clear to me that one of messages the British people gave is they wanted to see control brought in to the movement of people from the EU to the UK.
“That is one of the issues that we as a government will deliver on.”
Mrs May also reminded Europe that it will have to wait until next year for Britain to formally table its EU departure, saying she will not trigger the ‘Article 50’ mechanism “before the end of this year”.
The new PM explained: “I understand this timescale will not please everyone but I think it is important to provide clarity on that now”.
It also emerged that the three course bonding dinner between the two women in the Chancellery was only scheduled to last an hour and 15 minutes.
But in a bid to build bridges, Mrs May declared they will be able to come to a deal eventually because “we have two women who can get on with the job and deliver the best possible results”.
She also insisted she would work hard to keep up a “strong alliance” with Germany despite Britain’s EU walkout.
Mrs May added: “I have been clear that Brexit means Brexit.
"But I also want to be clear here today, and across Europe in the weeks ahead, that we are not walking away from our European friends.”
Downing Street said they were pleased with the Germany boss siding with Britain to take the time it needs, saying it was “"absolutely understandable'' for No10 to be given space to “define its negotiating position in great clarity”.
France and the EU Commission want the UK to leave as soon as possible to end the uncertainty.
But Mrs Merkel said: “We will wait”.
Before the meeting, Mrs May inspected an honour guard in front of the
Chancellery as Britain and Germany’s national anthems were played.
German media urge May to bench BoJo
THERESA May cracked a World Cup footballing joke to defuse a row about Boris Johnson in Berlin.
The new PM was grilled by a German journalist on why she made the controversial Tory her Foreign Secretary when he was “a player on the pitch who doesn't actually want to play”.
Instead of rising to the bait, Mrs May calmly batted the question away by responding: “I think it would be dangerous for a British Prime Minister to talk about football in Germany.
“This is not something on which we have perhaps quite as good a record as the Germans do.”
Britain’s fashion-loving PM wore her favourite leopard print kitten heels for the big moment, while Mrs Merkel had on her trademark sensible flatter-soled black shoes.
As they left the parade ground, Mrs May was overheard telling Mrs Merkel: "Thank you very much for that spectacle, splendid".
During the high speed, the two leaders and their officials were served up a tuna with mango chutney starter, a main course of veal with mushrooms and marinated wild berries with ice cream for pudding.
Earlier during PMQs, Mrs May ducked a demand from Eurosceptic backbencher Edward Leigh to pull Britain out of the EU's single market altogether.
But the new PM was adamant that Britain will get the right to control its own immigration under Brexit.
Sending the same tough warning, Mrs May told MPs: "The message was very clear. People want control of freedom of movement from the European Union, and that is what we will be getting".
May tells Merkel to take a hike
In a bid to help their bonding, Theresay May gave Angela Merkel two walking books to mark her 62nd birthday on Sunday, as it’s a hobby they both share.
In a bid to help their bonding, Theresay May gave Angela Merkel two walking books to mark her 62nd birthday on Sunday, as it’s a hobby they both share.
Having picked the books herself, Mrs May handed her counterpart a new edition of Coast To Coast With Wainwright, a classic photographic book from 1973 on beauty spots between the Irish and North seas, and a copy of Great Mountain Days In Snowdonia, which includes a guide to walks in the National Park.
The PM included a handwritten message of birthday wishes with the presents.
But the leaders did not formally exchange any official gifts during the visit following precedent set in similar trips.