Boris Johnson criticised for ‘abhorrent’ comment comparing Francois Hollande to WWII guard who could ‘administer punishment’ to UK after Brexit
BORIS Johnson has been slammed by Europe's chief Brexit negotiator after comparing French President Francois Hollande to a World War Two guard.
The Foreign Secretary has landed himself in hot water after he likened President Hollande to a general dishing out "punishment beatings" to Britain for leaving the EU.
He said: “If Mr Hollande wants to administer punishment beatings to anybody who seeks to escape [the EU], in the manner of some World War II movie, I don’t think that is the way forward.
“It seems absolutely incredible to me that in the 21st century member states of the EU should be seriously contemplating the reintroduction of tariffs or whatever to administer punishment to the UK.”
Downing Street jumped to Johnson's defence - branding his comments as a "theatrical comparison".
But Europe's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt has blasted the comments as “abhorrent and deeply unhelpful” – and has urged the PM to condemn them.
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron also slammed Johnson for his "crass" remarks.
He told The Sun: "This is an utterly distasteful comment. Boris is our chief diplomat, how can he say such things? It’s crass and he is clueless. I assume he says these things to deflect from the utter shambles that the Government is in over Brexit.
"I understand Boris loves a World War Two analogy and likens himself to Churchill. But one was the greatest ever Britain, a war leader, and the other is Boris - who goes around the world as Foreign Secretary apologising to all the nations he has offended over the years."
A spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn said his comments were "wild and inappropriate".
No 10 were forced to deny Johnson was suggesting anyone was a Nazi, and said that the row was a “hyped-up media report”.
The Prime Minister's official spokeswoman brushed off calls for the Foreign Secretary to apologise and said she wasn't aware of any complaint from the Elysee Palace.
The Foreign Secretary was responding to French criticism of Britain leaving the EU.
Last year Mr Hollande said there should be a "threat, a risk, a price" to pay for quitting the bloc.
The Prime Minister confirmed yesterday in her Brexit speech that the UK would be leaving the Single Market and we would finally be able to take full control of our borders and laws.
She issued an open threat to other EU leaders, saying that a deal that would punish Britain in any way to help deter other countries from leaving the bloc, would be "an act of calamitous self-harm".
Taking a tough line, Mrs May also said that the UK could reject a bad deal with the EU if necessary, and that we could reduce taxes to make Britain more competitive after Brexit.
And she promised MPs and peers a vote on the final Brexit deal – which sent the pound soaring.
Johnson yesterday praised Theresa May for her "powerful and ambitious" vision for the UK in her speech.
He said: "Point by point, she nailed the 'ambiguities'. She explained – to Britain and the world – how we can leave the EU, and yet not leave Europe."
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