Merkel to Britain: EU freedoms must be respected for single market access

"We will not allow any cherry picking," Merkel said to cheers from 1,000 CDU delegates in the western rust belt city of Essen.

"The four basic freedoms must be safeguarded -- freedom of movement for people, goods, services and financial market products. Only then can there be access to the single market."

(Reporting by Paul Carrel and Noah Barkin)