The wolves are circling for fading Merkel

IT ALWAYS happens. After years at the top of the greasy pole the time finally comes for the once-untouchable leader to step down and the wolves start to circle. Someone once said that all political careers end in failure.

It is happening to Germany’s Angela Merkel. It seems not long since she bestrode the politics of Europe, commanding not only the biggest country but far and away the biggest economy. The EU bowed in deference.

But in September, after 14 years in the Chancellery, she goes, her party under siege, her record under attack, her image a sagging face as one consumed by exhaustion.

And as always those too timid to attack only a few years ago come out of the woodwork to launch their criticisms. The media of Germany are now keen to rebuke her for scuttling

Germany’s highly efficient nuclear energy-generating programme in favour of dependence on Russia’s gas and oil, soon to be fed through the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Due to this she can never attack Moscow no matter how many outrages stem from the Kremlin. Also in the critics’ arsenal is her opening Germany to limitless Mid-East immigrants.

Across the Rhine, Emmanuel Macron, with nothing like her longevity in office, is also fighting to survive. Neither recently has stinted to hide their hostility to us and our tourists.

All we have to do is stop flapping, cease putting ourselves down, get back to work and prosper again.

British wealth, strength, unity and confidence constitute the best conceivable answer to the pair of them.