Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary compares Government ministers to Dad’s Army characters over their ‘lunatic optimism’ of Brexit
The chief executive of the low-cost airline said the UK was about to "walk off a cliff" by leaving the European and there was no evidence for the optimism of the Brexiteers
RYANAIR boss Michael O'Leary has compared Government ministers to Dad’s Army characters of over their "lunatic optimism" of Brexit.
The chief executive of the airline said the UK was about to "walk off a cliff" by leaving the European and there was no evidence for the optimism of the Brexiteers.
Bitter Remoaner Mr O'Leary, who backed staying in the EU, said that ministers has "no idea where they're going" and they were "all talking to themselves".
"There's very little evidence apart from some mildly lunatic optimism over here that it will be all right on the night," he said, when asked about whether his expectations were pessimistic for the UK.
"It's like Dad's Army going off to war here. It'll be all right Sergeant (sic) Jones. You'll just keep plodding along."
He added: "The UK is going to walk itself off a cliff unless somebody in the Tory Party comes up with a bright idea."
The Ryanair boss said that the company still planned to grow by 5% next year, but had cut its forecasts in anticipation of uncertainty.
"They stand up in the Houses of Parliament (and say) 'We're going to do good deal for Britain'," he continued.
"Any idea what a good deal looks like? No, they haven't a clue."
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Experts are worried that flights could be grounded if Britain leaves the single market, as additional restrictions would apply to the sector, which is worth around £20billion to the economy every year.
Brexit Secretary David Davis and Aviation Minister Lord Ahmad tried to calm fears last week at a meeting at London City Airport, with representatives from Ryanair, easyJet and Virgin.
They said access to the markets would be a "top priority" when the UK leaves the EU, but Mr O'Leary wasn't satisfied with the answers and said that politicians were making "warm noises but no specifics."
He said that is "what they say to all the boys they meet these days. But they clearly have no priorities.
"They have no idea when or how they're going to negotiate the issue."
The news comes after Sir Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin, is facing a backlash from angry Leave voters as it emerged he was prepared to fund a campaign to keep Britain in the EU.
David Davis is also meeting MEPs and negotiators in Brussels today to try and form positive relationships ahead of Brexit talks.