Germany said to shut door on Brexit back channel deals

Berlin

GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel's government is battening down the hatches for the coming Brexit talks, instructing officials to avoid any back-door contacts that could hand the UK an advantage.

Ms Merkel's chancellery is receiving UK diplomats but politely refusing to grant the UK any favours in advance of the official negotiations, according to two people familiar with the matter. Officials at some ministries have been instructed to shun official contacts with UK counterparts that could reveal negotiating positions, another person said.