There’s a place in Hell for Brexiteers, says EU chief
EU CHIEF Donald Tusk sparked a furious row yesterday after saying there is a “special place in hell” for those who fought for Brexit.
The President of the European Council lashed out at Leave campaigners who “promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan for how to carry it out safely”. He was speaking after talks with Irish premier Leo Varadkar in Brussels.
When Mr Varadkar apparently whispered to him that the British would “give you terrible trouble” over the jibe, the Polish politician was then caught on mic sniggering. He is said to have replied: “I know.”
Mr Tusk’s comments, with just 50 days to go until Brexit, prompted a frosty response from Downing Street and open anger from Brexiteers.
His extraordinary outburst came as leaders are urgently looking for a compromise deal to ensure that Brexit happens on time and as planned. Mr Tusk told journalists he knew there were “still a very great number of people” in the UK, on the continent and in Ireland who wanted to reverse the decision.
He said: “I have always been with you, with all my heart, but the facts are unmistakable. At the moment the pro-Brexit stance of the UK prime minister and the leader of the opposition rules out this question. Today there is no political force and no effective leadership for Remain.”
He said the EU’s top priority was to prepare for the “fiasco” of a no-deal Brexit, while ruling out any renegotiation of the Irish “backstop” proposal.
He added: “I’ve been wondering what that special place in Hell looks like for those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan for how to carry it out safely.”
He then tweeted the same comment moments later.
The European Parliament’s Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt then tweeted: “Well, I doubt Lucifer would welcome them, as after what they did to Britain, they would even manage to divide Hell.”
The pair’s antics threatened to send the EU exit negotiations into a tailspin ahead of crunch talks today.
Theresa May is set to arrive in Brussels for a showdown with EU chiefs.
Her official spokesman said: “I think it’s a question for Donald Tusk as to why he considers the use of that language to be helpful.”
Other politicians lined up to criticise the council president. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Mr Tusk’s “arrogance” showed why many people dislike the EU. He said: “I’ll never understand this from EU leaders. It’s this sort of arrogance that drives antipathy towards the EU.”
Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom demanded Mr Tusk apologise for his “disgraceful” and “spiteful” comments. The Brexit-supporting minister said: “What he has said is unacceptable and disgraceful. I’m sure that when he reflects on it he may well wish he hadn’t done it.”
DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson branded Mr Tusk a “devilish, trident-wielding Euromaniac”.
Tory Brexiteer Mark Francois added: “This is exactly the bullying and condescending language that prompted 17.4 million people to vote to leave the EU in the first place.”
Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, now an independent MEP, said Mr Tusk’s outburst shows how worried
the EU is about a no-deal Brexit. He said: “After Brexit, we will be free of unelected, arrogant bullies like you and run our own country. Sounds more like Heaven to me.”
Leave Means Leave chairman John Longworth said: “Why would anyone want to be a part of the EU when it is led by the likes of Donald Tusk?”
Tory Peter Bone called the words a “completely outrageous insult”.