Britain still ‘outward looking’ insists Downing Street after blast from outspoken Brit diplomat who drafted Article 50
The former Judge said we look 'incoherent' as we don't have a clear Brexit strategy
DOWNING Street insisted Britain remained “outward looking” in the face of scathing criticism from a former diplomat and EU negotiator.
Lord Kerr sparked outrage by saying political and media commentary was trashing Britain’s reputation on the other side of the Channel.
He said Europeans were shocked by speeches at the Tory Party conference and that Theresa May’s rejection of the European Court of Justice was the “single most damaging issue”.
He said: "Most people in Brussels think that rules out anything but a hard Brexit because, ‘how can you play if you will not accept the referee’s decision?’"
But the PM’s official spokeswoman declared yesterday: “I think the PM has been making it very clear that we are going to continue to be an open and outward looking country.
“She has had many good bi-laterals with not just her counterparts in Europe but around the world, as has the Foreign Secretary.
“The UK continues to play an influential role on a whole range of affairs. We will continue to look to be a leading player in the world.”
And she defended Britain’s free Press adding: “It’s up to editors to judge what they deliver each day.”
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In a speech at the London School of Economics, Lord Kerr - credited with drafting the Article 50 wording - blasted an “extremely nasty bout of xenophobia” in the British Press.
He said: “The fog in the Channel is getting thicker all the time”
"How do we look from across the Channel at moment? We look incoherent. They cannot believe there was not a plan and five months on, there is still no plan.
“They note the xenophobia — the attacks on foreigners, the sense that the climate in Britain is changing.
“Boris Johnson’s sense of humour does not travel well across the continent.”
Back in May, Boris even joked that the UK should vote Leave on June 23 - because the Continent doesn't share our sense of humour.
Now a cross-bench peer, Lord Kerr was the Foreign Office permanent secretary from 1997-2002 and UK representative to the EU from 1990-95.
It comes as No10 begins to brief London-based foreign journalists on Brexit negotiations.
Mrs May’s advisers want more control over how European media gets its information as many EU capitals get their information from British newspapers.
The briefings will start within the next two weeks and are expected to become weekly from early next year.
A Downing Street official told the : “It’s about us being able to talk to them directly, to counter misreporting and to accurately reflect the government’s position.”