Backlash as star Emma says it’s madness to quit
ACTRESS Emma Thompson faces a backlash after insisting it would be “madness” for the UK to vote to leave the European Union.
The star said an EU exit was a “crazy idea” in a bizarre rant that described Britain as a “cake- filled” and “misery- laden” island.
Tory MP Stewart Jackson dismissed her comments, calling her an “overpaid, leftie luvvie” while fellow Conservative Eurosceptic Steve Baker accused her of “doing our country down”. Thompson made the remarks while promoting the film Alone In Berlin in the German capital on Monday.
She described living in “a tiny little cloud- bolted, rainy corner of sort- of Europe... a cake- filled misery- laden grey old island”.
Asked how she would vote in the in- out referendum, she said: “I feel European even though I live in Great Britain so of course I’m going to vote to stay in Europe. It would be madness not to. It’s a crazy idea not to. We should be taking down borders, not putting them up.”
Peterborough MP Mr Jackson tweeted: “I really couldn’t give a monkeys what overpaid leftie luvvie Emma Thompson thinks about # Brexit.”
Mr Baker, chairman of anti- EU group Conservatives For Britain, said: “It’s always incredibly disappointing to see a star doing our country down.”
Tory MEP Daniel Hannan said: “In what sense is Britain a ‘ tiny little island’, Emma Thompson? Geography? Economics? Diplomatic reach? Which are the bigger islands?”
Actor Sir Michael Gambon, comedian Eddie Izzard and Tory peer Karren Brady are among the other celebrities who have spoken out in support of the EU.
Sir Michael Caine insisted Britain was better off out, saying: “Unless there are extremely significant changes, we should get out.”