Hans-Olaf Henkel MEP: 'EU should offer Britain a completely new #Brexit deal'

Independent MEP and former chairman of German Industries (BDI) Hans-Olaf Henkel (pictured) has called on representatives of the European Council and Commission to "offer Britain a new deal and provide the UK with a convincing reason to cancel Brexit ". Henkel is proposing an agreement that will give Britain more autonomy over immigration while allowing the free movement of goods. "If such an agreement had already existed before, it would not have come to the Brexit referendum at all," says Henkel. According to the MEP, a similar exemption existed in 2004 between the EU and the German red-green federal government under Chancellor Schröder, when it came to work permits for Polish workers.

"If Britain leaves the EU, it is as if the 19 smallest states are leaving at the same time. Brussels should now use all its power to keep the UK in the EU. Particularly as a German and a Democrat, I am glad that the Battle of Britain was lost in 1940, but we face a new 'Battle for Britain' and if we were to fail to keep the UK in the EU it would be devastating for Germany, for Britain and for Europe. "

Furthermore, Hans-Olaf Henkel added: "The UK is already the main consumer of goods from the EU, and even after Brexit, the UK will be the biggest customer. Renegotiating a trade agreement with such a country is one thing, but quite another is redesigning customer and supplier relations of thousands of medium and large companies. European companies will suffer tremendous damage from Brexit if we do not act now."

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