Macron turns on May in plea for EU unity

EMMANUEL Macron yesterday urged EU nations to put unity above forging a close relationship with Britain after Brexit.

The French president’s comments will hurt Theresa May, who tried to woo him into supporting her Brexit plans at his holiday residence earlier this month. Speaking in Paris, Mr Macron told 250 French ambassadors that Brexit was ‘a sovereign choice which we must respect’. However, he added: ‘But it can’t come at the expense of the EU’s integrity.

‘France wants to maintain a strong, special relationship with London but not if the cost is the unravelling of the EU.’

In the speech, he also suggested the US could no longer be relied upon for security.