‘Merkel faces a £26bn Brexit question’ UK trade power may force Germany to SILENCE Barnier

German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces a difficult balancing today as she meets with Theresa May in the hope of pushing forward Brexit talks.

The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has recently enraged several Cabinet ministers over his aggressive stance in the talks, including a so-called ‘punishment clause’.

Mrs May visits Berlin as the EU and the UK attempt to thrash out the details of a temporary transition deal intended to smooth the path to Brexit

Speaking after the last round of talks, Mr Barnier said “substantial” disagreements remained and he had “some problems understanding the UK’s position”.

Michael Prescott, the chief political strategist at Hanover, told Sky News that Angela Merkel may try to signal to Theresa May that Mr Barnier has “overplayed his hand”.

He claimed the £26bn trade deficit between Germany and the UK would play a significant role in forcing Germany to soften the EU’s stance.

Mr Prescott said: “Merkel will not stand up and denounce the EU’s chief negotiator and publicly undermine him.

“But, on the margins, in private or off-the-record briefings, there may be bits of encouragement or areas where progress can be made.”

He added: “There has been very little focus on what the EU27 have to lose if things go wrong.

“Take Germany, Merkel faces the £26bn question. Germany sells us £26bn more than we sell them. That is the trade deficit.

“We are the third biggest trade partners after the US and France.

“One in seven German cars are exported to the UK, do they want a 10% tariff barrier? I think not.

“She will be hoping for a smoke signal from the German side that Barnier has overplayed his hand.

“He seems very hardline whenever he appears and talks about Brexit.”