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Theresa May has repeatedly vowed to impose stricter immigration measures after the UK officially leaves the EU in 2019. But Mrs Merkel warned her against the move, saying Britain would pay the "price" by taking control of its borders. And she insisted the EU would consider the views of Remain voters when Brexit negotations finally get underway later this year.

They cannot say there will be an upper limit of 100,000 EU citizens Angela Merkel

The German leader said: "If the British government ends the free movement of people, that will have its price. "This isn't malicious, but they cannot say there will be an upper limit of 100,000 or 200,000 EU citizens, no more. "That will not work. We would have to think about what obstacle we create from the European side to compensate for that."

GETTY Angela Merkel urged the next Government to maintain free movement after Brexit

The many faces of Angela Merkel Wed, May 17, 2017 German Chancellor, Angela Merkel through the years Play slideshow 1 of 16

Mrs Merkel also urged the UK to maintain a "level playing field" with the bloc to avoid harming businesses and workers. And she warned Brexit negotiations would be "very, very complicated". The Chancellor said: "We will, of course, always think in the future relationship of the 48 or 49 per cent who didn't back Brexit."

GETTY She also warned Brexit negotiations would be 'very, very complicated'

Her comments, made during a speech to trade union leaders at the L20 summit in Germany, are likely to anger Mrs May. The Prime Minister recently attacked Brussels' stance on Brexit, claiming some Eurocrats want the upcoming divorce talks to fail. Speaking last month, she warned: "There are some in Brussels who do not want these talks to succeed, who do not want Britain to prosper."

GETTY The German Chancellor's comments are likely to anger Theresa May

Mrs May will unveil her post-Brexit immigration policy when the Tory election manifesto is released tomorrow. Earlier this week Jeremy Corbyn vowed to impose a system of "managed migration" if elected to Downing Street. The Labour leader said: "Clearly the free movement ends when we leave the European Union, but there will be managed migration and it will be fair."

GETTY The Prime Minister will unveil the Tory election manifesto tomorrow