Brexit Brits are new heroes of Swiss as they slam brakes on bullying EU trade deal, by Rebecca Flood.

Emboldened by Britain’s courageous move to leave the bloc Swiss politicians have now told the EU where to go – and are staunchly refusing to sign-up to the over-weaning European Court of Justice and a raft of other EU-promoting measures in return for trade concessions.

EU chiefs expected the Swiss to supinely bend to their economic and political will – but now the small, but wealthy nation has been inspired by Britain and is worried the EU will force it into corners.

Bullying Brussels was demanding a formal treaty to bring the Swiss more closely under the remit of EU institutions including the European Court of Justice and state aid rules in exchange for more market access.

Switzerland is not formally part of the EU, but is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). It has a free trade agreement with the EU and a number of bilateral agreements, which give it access to the Single Market for most of its industries but it does not have full access to the single market for its banking sector.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and German Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted a binding EU-led treaty was the only way to unlock further trade deals.

Big government types are almost invariably so arrogant, as if they know the one true way in life.

hat-tip Stephen Neil