Angela Merkel warns UK over Brexit

German chancellor Angela Merkel has made her strongest intervention in the Brexit debate so far, warning that the UK would be isolated and lose influence if it leaves the EU in the referendum in three weeks’ time.

Ms Merkel cited trade and the single market as key reasons for the UK to stay in the 28-nation bloc, backing the economic arguments put forward by British prime minister David Cameron and supported by bodies such as the IMF.

Campaigners for leaving argue that the UK can continue doing business freely with the EU and reach favourable free-trade deals with the rest of the world once out of the bloc.