Brexit: Cameron asked Merkel for immigration concessions before referendum

Britain’s former prime minister asked the German chancellor for lastminute concessions on immigration within the European Union (EU) ahead of the UK’s referendum on EU membership, the BBC revealed on Saturday.

ThenPrime Minister David Cameron asked German Chancellor Angela Merkel to sign a statement supporting restrictions on freedom of movement in order for the “Remain” camp to win.

Cameron called Merkel in the days ahead of the June 23 referendum when polls were suggesting the “Leave” camp was ahead.

Other EU leaders, French President Francois Hollande, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President JeanClaude Juncker, were also to be involved in the plan, according to research by “BBC Newsnight”.

The UK government finally abandoned the idea, considering that it could be viewed as a sign of weakness to those in favor of “Brexit”, according to the UK’s public broadcaster.

Some 52% of referendum votes were in favor of the UK leaving the EU, leading to the resignation of Cameron as UK PM and leader of the Conservative Party.

Former Home Minister, Theresa May, replaced Cameron as PM on July 13, having taken on party leadership two days before.