France

President Macron is at the most hawkish end of the spectrum and wants the EU to clearly demonstrate that leaving the bloc has real consequences. Yesterday he led the charge against the UK, describing those who say Britain can thrive outside the EU as “liars”. France is also leading those countries that reject plans for the type of close economic co-operation envisaged by Chequers.

EU influence 5/5

Germany

While less voluble than the French president, Angela Merkel is also a hardliner on Brexit. She is deeply and personally attached to the European political project and sees Brexit as an existential threat to EU solidarity. It is not that Germany wants to punish Britain for leaving but neither does she want it to set any