Financial Times editor slammed for bragging about award from French for bashing Brexit
THE editor of the Financial Times has been slammed after bragging about getting an award from the French for bashing Brexit.
Newspaper boss Lionel Barber tweeted a friend saying he had been offered the Legion d’Honneur for his “positive role in the European debate”.
But MPs yesterday said he should refuse it for “furthering the interests of a foreign government” at the expense of Britain.
His paper ran a series of anti-Brexit stories before the June 23 poll, and continues to do so in its aftermath.
One headline before the poll announced, “Brexit dominates fears for the global economy” while comment pieces warned a Leave vote “puts UK companies in the bargain basement” and that “the repercussions in Europe will be incalculable”.
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The Queen will have to give Mr Barber permission to receive the honour.
But Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “I would be surprised if the Queen allowed him to accept it.
“It appears this is being given for helping a foreign power achieve its foreign policy objectives.”
Tory MP Philip Davies joked: “If they give him the Legion d’Honneur for losing the Referendum, presumably they’d have made him President if Remain had won.”
HOW PAPER PUT UK DOWN
JUNE 24: Calls Brexit the “most damaging blow ever inflicted” on the West since 1945, adding only Russia and “hiding places of assorted terrorists” will rejoice.
JUNE 25: Says “UK is sleepwalking towards a populist future it does not truly want”.
JUNE 25: Argues the UK is in “acute danger of losing control”, and has “shattered” ties with allies.
JUNE 30: Claims UK is “going the way of Greece”, implying a financial meltdown.
JULY 16: Blames Brexit for “souring” the fine wine market.
JULY 22: Says Brexit put firms in “bargain basement” for foreign takeovers.