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Brexit won't tear us apart say London and Paris mayors, despite French drive to swipe business

The Mayor of London, Sadiq and the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo talk to the media at Gare du Nord in Paris - EPA
The Mayor of London, Sadiq and the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo talk to the media at Gare du Nord in Paris - EPA

The mayors of London and Paris on Wednesday glossed over a Gallic campaign to woo banks and business to the French capital in the wake of Brexit, saying it was in neither city's interests to "seek to crush one another". 

The calls to "join forces" from Sadiq Kahn, the Mayor of London, and Anne Hidalgo, Paris' mayor - both Left-wingers - came after an aggressive campaign by the Right-wing head of the Paris region to "roll out the blue, white and red carpet" to new arrivals from the City of London.

“If I need to go and grab jobs with my teeth, then I’ll do it,” Valérie Pécresse conservative president of the Paris region said when launching the campaign the day after Britain's vote to leave the European Union last June.

She promised lower taxes, easing of employment laws, even the possibility of filing official documents in English.

French officials predict up to 60,000 jobs – half from the financial sector and half from other British-based industries – could move to Paris following Brexit. “Brexit is profoundly regrettable, but we cannot be passive or naive," said Ms Pécresse.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo attend a meeting on air pollution in Paris - Credit:  GONZALO FUENTES/ REUTERS
London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo attend a meeting on air pollution in Paris Credit: GONZALO FUENTES/ REUTERS

But Ms Hidalgo on Wednesday said that while competition was "healthy and salutary", "one never gains anything by thinking one is going to crush the other".

Her comments came a day after London and Paris announced plans to pool their tourist development resources and offer startup companies cheap rates on the Eurostar train link as part of an attempt to limit the impact of Brexit.

The two cities are working towards allowing startup companies to have a joint Paris-London domicile to keep a "foothold" in and out of the EU, said Ms Hidalgo on Wednesday.

Mr Khan, who timed his visit to Paris to be on the continent as Article 50 was invoked, insisted it was still possible for London to obtain "privileged" access to the single market after Brexit.

"My view is we need to have privileged access to the single market so we can sell our goods but also our services," he told ITV News.

"It's going to be difficult but it's possible. Theresa May and the Government need to recognise that London is the engine of our country."

The Mayor also intensified calls for Theresa May to respect the rights of some 3.3 million EU citizens living in Britain.

"Today, Theresa May has a huge opportunity to give them a cast-iron guarantee that they can stay here after Brexit as she triggers Article 50.

"This would start negotiations with a powerful symbol of goodwill and both sides should give this assurance today."

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