Years ago Mr Kohl was demanding firm progress towards European political union (including majority voting) in return for German consent to the euro.

ECONOMIST: Germany

"But I pointed out to him that Turkey is an aspiring member of the European Union and we do want Turkey to join the European Union, all political parties here in great Britain are in favour, " he said.

BBC: MP's talks over Leeds United fan deaths in Turkey

"We've made the argument for years and now it's a mainstream argument that we want an amicable divorce from the political European Union and its replacement with a genuine, free-trade agreement which is what we thought we'd signed up for in the first place, " he told delegates.

BBC: UKIP 'only Westminster alternative'