IDS: Brussels says we’re unstable? That’s rich
IAIN Duncan Smith yesterday rubbished claims by EU leaders that instability around Theresa May’s leadership could see Brexit talks break down.
The former Tory leader accused them of hypocrisy, pointing to political dramas across the continent, and warned senior European figures that their attempts to interfere in UK politics were ‘a bit rich’.
His intervention came as it was claimed that EU leaders and diplomats had begun preparations for the Government to fall before the new year. They are also reportedly ready to tell Mrs May to delay Brexit by up to two years, claiming a deal will become almost impossible if she does not have control of the Cabinet.
But Mr Duncan Smith told the EU it had no right to ‘lecture’ on political stability. He said: ‘They are not wise on a number of things, and least of all British politics. It is a bit rich of them to speak about this. The Dutch government has only just managed to find its own feet, Germany still doesn’t have an official government.’
The veteran MP also alluded to ‘chaos’ in Italy where elections will be held next year amid an ongoing banking crisis.
He also pointed at the fallout in Spain following Catalonia’s controversial independence referendum, highlighting the arrests of separatist leaders ‘who wanted to split the country apart’.
However, he acknowledged the coming months would be ‘a bit bumpy at times’.