The former Arsenal ‘keeper wants the UK to remain
A group of influential German politicians and business leaders have signed an open letter in The Times urging the United Kingdom to ditch Brexit and remain in the EU.
More than 20 influential figures signed the letter, including Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the woman most likely to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor of Germany, as well as former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
The most remarkable & significant letter to the Times of my lifetime pic.twitter.com/obRlFbJVkt
— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) January 18, 2019
The letter pleads with Britain, “from the bottom of our hearts” to change its mind on Brexit.
“Britain has become part of who we are as Europeans,” the letter reads.
“We would miss Britain as part of the European Union, especially in these troubled times. Therefore Britons should know: from the bottom of our hearts, we want them to stay.”
It was made clear in the letter that should the UK proceed with its plans to leave the European Union, but later change its mind, Germany would welcome them back into the EU with open arms.
While respecting the decision of the British people to leave, but if the UK decided to stay, “our door will always remain open”.
Acknowledges the shared history of the two nations, the letter thanks for the UK for not giving up on Germany after the second world war, saying that Germans “have not forgotten and we are grateful.”
“Should Britain wish to leave the European Union for good, it will always have friends in Germany and Europe,” it reads.
“But Britons should equally know that we believe that no choice is irreversible.”
It continues: “We would miss the legendary British black humour and going to the pub after work hours to drink an ale. We would miss tea with milk and driving on the left-hand side of the road. And we would miss seeing the panto at Christmas.
“But more than anything else, we would miss the British people – our friends across the Channel.”
As well as Kramp-Karrenbauer and Lehmann, the letter was also signed by Andrea Nahles, the leader of the Social Democratic party, the Greens co-leaders and the head of the German parliament’s foreign affairs committee.
The letter came after some in Berlin suggested that a no deal Brexit could have terrible consequences.
Expressing her regret that Theresa May’s Brexit deal suffered crushing defeat in the House of Commons, Kramp-Karrenbauer said: “We will not block the path to Britain remaining in the EU. London must now put forward constructive proposals as to how to proceed.”
