French president and Dutch king visit disaster zone as Boris ‘blusters’
VISITS by the French president and the Dutch king to areas devastated by Hurricane Irma intensified the criticism of Britain’s response yesterday.
Critics said Britain was offering only ‘bluster’ after Downing Street said there were no plans to send any ministers to the Caribbean disaster zone.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron will visit today. Dutch King Willem-Alexander was there yesterday.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson defended the UK response to what he called ‘an unprecedented catastrophe’. After chairing the Government’s emergency Cobra committee, he said: ‘We are continuing to deliver aid, including food and water, to where it is needed. There are now 00 UK troops and more than 50 police officers in Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, and Turks and Caicos islands.’
Mr Johnson said that in addition to the £32million already set aside following the disaster, the Government would be matching public donations to the Red Cross appeal.
But Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: ‘The action of other governments puts Theresa May’s response in sharp relief.
‘While France doubles its police and military presence in response to the hurricane, the British government offers the bluster of Boris Johnson.’
On Monday Britain’s response was branded ‘pathetic’ as other countries with interests in the region delivered aid and relief far more quickly.