German finance minister: UK would be ‘economic poison’

The UK’s decision to leave the European Union will damage Britain, Europe and the world economy, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has told the BBC in an interview.

"We shall have very difficult years of negotiation, also difficult for the European Union. And we shall have for years to come uncertainty which is poison for the economy in the UK, on the Continent and for the world economy," Mr Schaeuble said.

Asked about Turkey, he said the German government had very strong doubts about whether it should become a member of the EU.

The process of negotiations would take a long time and it was not something "for tomorrow", he said.