EU Commission president labels Brexit campaigners as quitters
Jean-Claude Juncker takes aim at Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson
- The politicians both shied away from leadership positions in aftermath of Leave vote in UK referendum
- The head of the commission was informing MEPs about last week’s EU summit
Updated : 12:42
Jean-Claude Juncker has attacked Nigel and Farage and Boris Johnson, labelling them as quitters after both men declined to lead their respective parties in the wake of Britain's decision to leave the European Union.
The president of the EU Commission was speaking to MEPs to brief them on the summit from last week in which David Cameron met with various leaders to discuss the issue.
“The Brexit heroes of yesterday are now the sad heroes of today,” Juncker told MEPs at the European parliament in Strasbourg.
“Those who have contributed to the situation in the UK have resigned – Johnson, Farage and others. They are as it were retro-nationalists, they are not patriots,” he said.
“Patriots don’t resign when things get difficult; they stay,” Juncker added.
Juncker also criticised the lack of urgency and plans from the Leave side when their side had become victorious.
“Instead of developing a plan they are leaving the boat,” he said.
Boris Johnson looked primed for a Conservative leadership contest until former ally Michael Gove made a last-minute charge to take control of the party, and the former London mayor announced that he would not challenge him shortly after.
Former leader of the United Kingdom Independence party Farage stepped down from his position on Monday, after having achieved his "political ambition", saying that he "wanted his life back".
Other major European Union figures have criticised the actions of the Brexiteers who have failed to follow through on their campaigns, including former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt.
“Brexiteers remind me of rats leaving the sinking ship,” Verhofstadt said. “What are you waiting for – the next referendum in France, in Italy maybe.”
EU leaders have remained firm on their warnings that there must be give-and-take from the UK regarding negotiations to leave the bloc, with all 27 member states signing a declaration that there would be no single market access without guarantees on freedom of movement.