Macron ‘won’t punish the UK in Brexit talks’

NEW French President Emmanuel Macron will not punish Britain over Brexit despite believing in a united Europe, one of his closest advisers claims.

Speaking the day after Mr Macron’s election victory, Jean Pisani-Ferry hinted at the “new relationship” the 39-year-old leader wants to create with No10.

Theresa May has congratulated Mr Macron, who won more than 66% of the vote to see off far-right rival Marine Le Pen on Sunday. However they are likely to clash when Brexit negotiations start in earnest.

Asked if the President wanted to punish Britain for leaving Europe, economic advisor Mr Pisani-Ferry said: “Punish, certainly not, but he believes that today, even today, Europe is part of the solution to the problems we are facing.

“So he is a very committed pro-European and he is not the kind of man who would implicitly agree with the sort of dismantling of the EU. I don’t think anybody has an interest in a hard Brexit. I think we need to build a new relationship.

“There are interests on both sides, there is a negotiation to be carried out.

“There is a mutual interest in keeping the prosperity that exists that has been built over the years.”

Mr Macron stood with outgoing President Francois Hollande yesterday at a ceremony to commemorate VE Day by the Arc de Triomphe monument in Paris.