No single market access for UK after Brexit, Wolfgang Schäuble says

In Der Spiegel interview German finance minister rules out Britain's chances of enjoying bloc benefits from outside EU

Germany's finance minister, Wolfgang Schiuble, has slammed the door on Britain retaining access to the single market if it votes to the leave the European Union.

In an interview in a Brexit-themed issue of German weekly Der Spiegel, the influential veteran politician ruled out the possibility of the UK following a Swiss or Norwegian model that would allow it to enjoy the benefits of the single market without being an EU member.

Related: A reverse Maastricht would be legal and politically feasible | Michael White

Major intervention from Germany: UK would have to accept free movement and pay in to EU to continue to access trade https://t.co/jIAPPXM6hT