German finance minister predicts end for sterling

RobitTV

Germany's Chancellor today denied the British people the chance for an EU referendum as as she said the eurozone crisis would be resolved without the UK's involvement.

Angela Merkel called for a 'limited treaty change' for further eurozone integration - exactly as spelled out in a leaked German memo which outlines an attempt to prevent a British referendum that could lead to powers being clawed back from Brussels.

Her extraordinary announcement came on the day that finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble predicted that the UK will have to adopt the euro 'faster than people think', despite the ongoing crisis in the single currency.

Germany's attempts to impose EU control on Britain, and the minister's astonishing outburst, will have increased the tensions between David Cameron and Mrs Merkel as they met in Berlin this morning.

The leaders are have clashed over German plans for a new tax on bank transactions and treaty change to shore up eurozone finances.

But at a press conference this afternoon, the pair ignored their differences and insisted that Britain and Germany will work together in a spirit of 'strong friendship'.

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thebman

Well with the amount of quantitative easing they are engaging in, would anyone be surprised?

Most likely he is just diverting attention from Euro problems or trying to anyway.

spider guardian

Even in Northern Ireland where some businesses have direct exposure to the Euro I still hear sniggers about the Eurozone, why Schäuble would say such a thing is beyond me, maybe he's just trying to rise the 'old enemy' for a laugh?

BlaasForRafa

This is just a load of hot air from the germans to deflect from the fact that the eurozone is in the midst of a tremendous crisis. I don't think its hyperbole to say that the British would rather leave the EU than join the Euro at this stage.

mike65

The Germans are coming out of all this looking like a bunch of dithering fools.

djpbarry

RobitTV wrote: »

Germany's Chancellor today denied the British people the chance for an EU referendum...

Eh? A referendum on what exactly?

OS119

djpbarry wrote: »

Eh? A referendum on what exactly?

apparently - if you're a swivell-eyed loon - the German government has denied the British public the opportunity to have a referendum on a new treaty/treaty changes by, err... not proposing a new treaty or changes to the current treaty that would affect the UK.

dastardly Germans, going round not doing stuff...

Chuck Stone

But Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the powerful Euro Group of eurozone finance ministers, said Britain was in no position to comment on the crisis as its deficit was twice the European average.

Shmaily Dale.

Juncker makes a good point in fairness.