REVEALED: German plot to snatch businesses from Britain after Brexit

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann has admitted plans to poach British businesses for DusseldorfGetty

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann has admitted plans to poach British businesses for Dusseldorf

Dr Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann told Express.co.uk she had been disappointed by Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, but that she and others had nonetheless been determined to use Brexit to their advantage.

And she revealed shortly after the historic referendum German politicians contacted businesses in the UK in an attempt to persuade them to relocate to Germany. 

She said: “As far as it affects Düsseldorf, very early on we asked the Lord Mayor to contact companies in the UK and in London, and if they are not British, to bring them to work here.

“That includes Japanese firms, as in Düsseldorf we have the biggest Japanese population in Europe.

“But there are other firms in London that we would be pleased to bring to Düsseldorf.”

Dr Strack-Zimmermann, a member of the FDP, which was set to enter government with Angela Merkel before walking away from talks on Sunday night, said although Brexit would be “difficult”, she was not worried for people in her seat of Düsseldorf.

She said: “I think it is difficult for everyone, that such a country is leaving. But we are not worried.”

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann said Dusseldorf was 'not worried' about the consequences of BrexitGetty Images

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann said Dusseldorf was ‘not worried’ about the consequences of Brexit

Dusseldorf plotted to poach businesses from London, the MP admittedGetty Images

Dusseldorf plotted to poach businesses from London, the MP admitted

It follows news earlier this week that thousands of jobs will leave London after the EU moved the Paris.

The EBA has been located in London since its creation in 2011, but will now relocate across the channel before March 2019, when Britain is set to quit the bloc.

Germany’s banking centre, Frankfurt, lost out early in the race for the EBA, despite being an early favourite to win the bid.

It had previously been tipped to poach finance jobs from London after Brexit, as well as the EBA, given that it is the home of the European Central Bank, but these predictions have not come true as yet.

Lloyd Blankfein threatened to take his business to Frankfurt following the Brexit voteGetty

Lloyd Blankfein threatened to take his business to Frankfurt following the Brexit vote

Britain has been dogged by claims that German cities will be able to poach jobs after Brexit since the days of Project Fear – including a veiled threat by Goldman Sachs’ Lloyd Blankfein to move his HQ to Frankfurt.

Claims that Frankfurt would become a banking powerhouse and leave London behind, however, have been .

Liam Halligan, a former asset manager who has co-authored the book ‘Clean Brexit’ , told Express.co.uk: “Brexit will make the City even more global oriented and even more competitive. It will future-proof jobs and further establish the City’s global reach.

“The City is the world’s hyper-global business destination. It is just absurd to think that any European investment bank is going to put its European HQ anywhere other than London.”

Meanwhile FDP politician Dr Strack-Zimmermann has also lashed out at Mrs Merkel over the breakdown of crucial coalition talks last week.

The Düsseldorf MP, who was part of the core team negotiating with the Chancellor, said Mrs Merkel had “no vision” for Germany and was totally unprepared for coalition talks.

She said the Chancellor had achieved a lot for Germany but seemed to have run out of ideas.

She told Express.co.uk: “With all respect for her achievements, the Chancellor now seems to have no vision for the future of Germany, which should be competing not just in Europe, but with the great powers and the biggest countries in the world.

“I have the feeling that she has no vision but is now only reacting to what is already there. 

“To make a country like Germany fit for the future, a few more ideas are needed.

“I suspect that she has run out of ideas.”