Now French say Britain COULD have new deal on EU migration ahead of Brexit negotiations

EUROPEAN leaders could be ready to negotiate a new immigration deal with Britain after the Brexit vote.

Leading politicians from across the Brussels club have said there should be no red lines as discussions over Britain's future outside the bloc get underway.

Crucially, French finance minister Michel Sapin – who last month claimed Brexit would have "significant economic consequences" for Britons – said free movement of people within Britain and the EU would not be non-negotiable.

Leading contenders for the Conservative leadership have all backed a new trade deal with Europe that will bring an end to free movement of people within the EU.

Sapin went on to pledge that France would seek to thrash out a new deal "as quickly as possible".

He also reaffirmed his government's commitment to build a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset.

When asked whether Britain could secure a new deal on immigration, he told BBC's Newsnight: "Everything will be on the table because Britain will make proposals and we will negotiate all these aspects with a desire to come to an agreement.

"Things will change. Things have already changed."

He added: "We return to zero. As we say in French: a clean state."

And while Swedish prime minister Stefan Lofven claimed continuing British access to the EU's single market without free movement of people was "out of the question", a top Finnish politician also ruled out drawing "red lines" ahead of the UK's renegotiation.

Deputy prime minister Timo Soini said: "I am a great friend of the UK, and all of Europe should be.

"I would recommend to everyone else that there should be no grudges, ill will, revenge or red lines."

Soini, who his country's foreign minister, told Sky News that while freedom of movement was "one of the biggest issues" in negotiations, "red lines are not the best possible idea".

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