Angela Merkel urges Britain to stick to Brexit schedule after Theresa May's election upset

Despite the fact that Theresa May lost her parliamentary majority in one of the most shocking General Elections in recent years, the German Chancellor is urging Britain to stay committed to the Brexit timetable.

Speaking during a visit to Mexico City, Mrs Merkel said Germany was ready for Brexit talks to begin on June 19 as scheduled.

Appearing alongside Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto, she told reporters: “I assume that Britain, from what I heard from the Prime Minister today, wants to stick to its negotiating plan.

“We want to negotiate quickly, we want to stick to the time plan, and so at this point I don’t think there is anything to suggest these negotiations cannot start as was agreed.”

As election results began to come in, outgoing Ukip leader Paul Nuttall said Mrs May had put “Brexit in jeopardy” by calling a snap poll.

Despite agreeing to form a government with the support of the DUP, the Prime Minister has faced calls to resign from within her own party and opposition leaders have said Mrs May should feel “ashamed” of carrying on.

Anna Soubry, who was re-elected to her Broxtowe constituency on Thursday, said the Prime Minister needs to “consider her position”.

A visibly angry Ms Soubry said she did not know where to begin when speaking to David Dimbleby about the Tories “dreadful” election results.

As she attacked the Conservatives campaign, Ms Soubry blamed the Prime Minister’s u-turn on social care for “deeply flawing” her Tory leadership.

She said: “It did not make her look like the strong and stable Prime Minister she had said that she said she was.

“That was a difficult and very serious blow I think in terms of her own credibility.”

Meanwhile Heidi Allen, who was returned as the Tory MP for South Cambridgeshire, told LBC: “If this was any other election in any other time in our history you could say yes the Prime Minister needs to stand down but this is different of course because we are about to start negotiating Brexit so that puts an entirely different complexion on matters.

“We do need a Prime Minister at this moment. I don’t believe personally that Theresa May will stay as our Prime Minister indefinitely.

“It may well be just a period of transition. We do need to get some stability but I just don’t know how that is going to pan out in the next week or two.”

Mrs May has also been criticised by European leaders after the election weakened her position as Prime Minister.

Manfred Weber, MEP and chairman of the European People’s Party group, wrote: “Our position is clear: we want good relations with the UK but #Brexit means leaving the EU and the advantages that go with it.”

But he also tweeted: “EU is united, UK is deeply split. PM May wanted stability but brought chaos to her country instead.

“The clock is ticking for #Brexit. Therefore the UK needs a government soon. The date for the beginning of negotiations is now unclear.”

Meanwhile, Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier hinted he doesn’t believe negotiations will go ahead on schedule, with just days until talks are scheduled to start.

He tweeted: “Brexit negotiations should start when UK is ready; timetable and EU positions are clear. Let’s put our minds together on striking a deal.”