The trouble with that argument is that Germany need freedom of movement so migrants can help their plunging demographics. They need freedom of capital so people and firms continue to invest in German banks rather than, say, Italian ones.nil_desperandum wrote:Why the obsession with Germany from some posters? It's not Germany that we should be concerned about in these negotiations. They would most likely be more sympathetic than most of their neighbours to us having full access to the single market so that they can sell their cars etc. to us. (They are net exporters to the UK).
Those two freedoms are likely to be more important to them so if we get to cherry pick but stay in the single market, and others want to follow our lead, it will affect Germany badly. So I expect they will be hugely resistant to any deal.
Saying that though, we hold all the aces, if we hold our nerve, we get a deal anyway. Even if we don't it isn't the end of the world for us.