Obama’s EU praise irks Tories

Conservative MPs accused Barack Obama of interfering in British politics after the US President said the UK must remain in the EU to enjoy influence on the world stage.

Mr Obama told the BBC that Britain’s EU membership “gives us much greater confidence about the strength of the transatlantic union”. He said the EU “made the world safer and more prosperous”.

But former cabinet minister John Redwood said: “If letting foreign countries impose laws on you, levy taxes on you, and spend your money is such a good idea, why doesn’t he create an American Union so Mexico can have common borders with the US?”

Conservative MP Owen Paterson said: “It is massivelyin America’s interest that a strong UK… regalvanises the movement for world free trade.”