Boris Johnson has been criticized for comparing the Ukrainians’ fight against Russia’s invasion to that of Britons voting for Brexit.
In a speech, he said the British, like the Ukrainians, had an instinct to “choose freedom”, citing the 2016 vote to leave the EU as a “famous recent example”.
Conservative peer Lord Barwell said the referendum was “not comparable to risking one’s life” in a war.
And Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said it was an “insult” to Ukrainians.
Addressing the Conservative Party’s spring conference in Blackpool earlier, the prime minister said: “I know it is the instinct of the people of this country, like the people of Ukraine, to choose freedom, every time.
“I can give you a couple of famous recent examples.
“When Britons voted for Brexit in such large numbers, I don’t think it was because they were even remotely hostile to foreigners.
“It’s because they wanted to be free to do things differently and for this country to be able to function on its own.”
Johnson also cited as an example Britons choosing to get vaccinated against the coronavirus because they “wanted to get on with their lives” and “were sick of people like me telling them what to do.”
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But his comments, intended to rally the Conservative faithful, drew criticism from political figures in the UK and Europe.
Donald Tusk, former President of the European Council, said Johnson’s comments “would offend the Ukrainians, the British and common sense.”
Guy Verhofstadt, former Prime Minister of Belgium and chief Brexit negotiator in the European Parliament, said the comparison was “crazy”.
Lord Barwell, who served as Theresa May’s chief of staff at issue 10, said: “Apart from the part where voting in a free and fair referendum is in no way comparable to risking your life to defend your country. against invasion and the uncomfortable fact that Ukrainians are fighting for the freedom to join the EU, this comparison is apt.”
Ukraine applied for fast-track entry into the European Union last month, shortly after the Russian invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that he had spoken with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and hoped progress would be made on its implementation in the coming months.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called the Prime Minister a “national embarrassment” He added: “Comparing a referendum to women and children fleeing bombs from (Vladimir) Putin is an insult to all Ukrainians.
“He is not Churchill: he is Basil Fawlty.”
SNP leader in Westminster Ian Blackford called the comparison “rude and disgusting” and said his comments showed how “dangerously watched” the Conservatives were on Brexit.
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