Emmanuel Macron sparks fury over claims Brexit was the outcome of ‘lies’ in New Year’s address

EMMANUEL Macron has sparked fury after claiming Brexit was the outcome of “lies and false promises”. 

The French President slammed the UK’s decision to leave the EU during his New Year’s address. 

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Mr Macron’s controversial speech came on the same night that the UK left the bloc for good, over four years after the Brexit referendum. 

Speaking from the Elysee, he told the French public: “A few days ago, we reached an agreement to organise our future relations, defending our interests, our industries, our fishermen and our unity.

“The United Kingdom remains our neighbour but also our friend and ally. 

“This voice of leaving Europe, this Brexit, was the child of European malaise and lots of lies and false promises.”

But the French President’s address provoked rage across the Channel, as one Tory MP claimed Macron “doesn’t like democracy”. 

Brexiteer MP Peter Bone told MailOnline: “The greatest democratic event in my lifetime, the EU referendum, saw more people vote in the UK than ever before. 

“There was genuine debate on a particular issue, it wasn't party political, it was across-parties and the people spoke. “

“I guess president Macron doesn’t like democracy.”

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France last night welcomed the first lorry from Britain in a post-Brexit "new beginning" for both nations.

Big Ben bonged at 11pm last night to mark the UK's exit - and again an hour later at midnight to see in the New Year.

Truck drivers with the correct paperwork - and a negative Covid test - were waved onto Eurotunnel trains with hardly any delay after 11pm GMT.

A Stobart truck driven by Slavi Ivanov Shumeykov became the first to leave the UK after Brexit, arriving in France just after midnight GMT.

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Boris Johnson hailed a "new beginning" as his Brexit deal was given Royal Assent by the Queen on Wednesday night to make it law.

Meanwhile, the first post-Brexit Eurostar arrived from London at the Gare du Nord train station in Paris today.

Passengers were seen entering the continent as customs officers waited on the platform.

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