Japan writes to May in favour of UK staying in customs union and single market

The?Japanese?ambassador has warned?Theresa May?that his country?s firms will quit Britain if a botched?Brexit?makes it "unprofitable" to stay.

Koji Tsuruoka laid bare growing nervousness about the impact of EU withdrawal on the Japanese?car giants, banks and tech companies after meeting the Prime Minister in Downing Street.

"If there is no profitability of continuing operation in [the] UK, not Japanese only, no private company can continue operations," Mr Tsuruoka said.


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"So it is as simple as that. And this is all high stakes that I think all of us need to keep in mind."

The warning comes after the Japanese government, in a leaked letter, called on Ms May to keep Britain in the EU?single market?and?customs union?and maintain a free flow of workers.