March 20, 2022
1 min read

Boris draws flak for comparing Ukraine war to Brexit

UK PM Boris Johnson’s remarks over Ukraine war did not go down well among political figures in the UK and Europe…reports Asian Lite News

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has garnered widespread criticism after her compared the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine to Brexit, a media report said on Sunday.

While addressing a Conservative Party spring conference in Blackpool on Saturday, Johnson said: “I know that it’s the instinct of the people of this country, like the people of Ukraine, to choose freedom, every time. I can give you a couple of famous recent examples.

“When the British people voted for Brexit in such large, large numbers, I don’t believe it was because they were remotely hostile to foreigners.

“It’s because they wanted to be free to do things differently and for this country to be able to run itself.”

But his remarks did not go down well among political figures in the UK and Europe, said the BBC report.

Gavin Barwell, who served as former Prime Minister Theresa May’s chief of staff in No 10, said: “Apart from the bit where voting in a free and fair referendum isn’t in any way comparable with risking your life to defend your country against invasion, and the awkward fact the Ukrainians are fighting for the freedom to join the EU, this comparison is bang on.”

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, chair of the defence select committee, said that “comparing the Ukrainian people’s fight against Putin’s tyranny to the British people voting for Brexit damages the standard of statecraft we were beginning to exhibit”.

Calling Johnson a “national embarrassment”, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said: “To compare a referendum to women and children fleeing Putin’s bombs is an insult to every Ukrainian. He is no Churchill: he is Basil Fawlty.”

Meanwhile in Europe, Donald Tusk, former president of the European Council, tweeted: “Boris, your words offend Ukrainians, the British and common sense.”

Guy Verhofstadt, the former Prime Minister of Belgium who was the European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator, said the comparison was “insane”.

ALSO READ: Former UK PMs call for Nuremberg-style trial for Putin

Previous Story

Chinese miner opens office in Kabul

Next Story

Pak oppn threatens to block OIC meet

Latest from -Top News

Von der Leyen Faces Twin No-Confidence Votes

The two bids have one common thread which is criticism over the European Union-US trade deal and the disfavourable terms it has placed on European exporters….reports Asian Lite News European Commission President

India-EU Trade Talks Resume

The proposed India-EU FTA covers 23 policy areas, or chapters, of which at least two – market access and rules of origin – have yet to be resolved….reports Asian Lite News India

India Launches Relief Ops in Bhutan

The Royal Government of Bhutan has expressed sincere gratitude to the Indian Army…reports Asian Lite News Amid unprecedented floods caused by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, relentless rainfall has
Go toTop

Don't Miss

UK govt to cut funding for BBC

In November, the government launched negotiations to agree how much

‘Up for the fight to win polls’

PM says he has reasons to be optimistic because the