‘Angela Merkel is VERY worried’ Britain has finally found EU’s achilles, John Redwood says

The former cabinet minister said the German chancellor and her EU allies had changed their tune and were “very worried” at the popularity of the World Trade Organisation model in Britain.

Writing on his blog, Mr Redwood said: “I am glad the Government is going full ahead with showing how the WTO option can work for the UK, and will do what it takes to make sure we trade and do business after March 2019 if there is no deal.

“That is a sensible contingency plan as well as a good negotiating strategy.”

He continued: “It is quite clear from the different tone of remarks coming from Mrs Merkel, the Commission and elsewhere within the EU that they are very worried at just how popular the WTO model is with many UK voters. 

“Brexit voters understand that this model delivers us full control over all our money from March 2019 with no additional payments, full control over all our laws including the laws transferred from the EU with the end of all ECJ jurisdiction and full national control of our borders from day one out of the EU. 

“That is what we wanted from Brexit. That is what ‘taking back control’ was all about.”

Mr Redwood’s comments came as an Opinium poll for today’s Observer revealed most people would prefer a no-deal Brexit rather than a lengthy transition period or no Brexit at all.

He wrote: “The debate is going to be over how much damage should we allow to the many advantages of just leaving in order to secure that free trade agreement. 

“Some seem to think it is worth billions in extra payments and worth keeping some ECJ involvement. I don’t agree.”

Mr Redwood urged Mrs May to remind the EU that a deal will only be acceptable if it is better than the WTO no- deal option. 

He said an agreement that sees Britain paying money it does not owe or accepting continuing EU jurisdiction was unacceptable.

And he said the EU will be more willing to “seek tariff free trade which we know it wants” if it knew the UK had already secured the WTO choice.

The outspoken Eurosceptic said: “That should be the government’s over-riding practical aim for the next 17 months.

“I am receiving numerous messages to get on with Brexit and keep to the March 2019 deadline to leave.”