Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson today hit back at the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator for accusing Britain of abandoning Europe in the fight against Islamic State.
Michel Barnier sparked a diplomatic firestorm when he claimed Britons ‘chose to be on their own’ in tackling terrorism when voting to leave the EU last year.
Mr Williamson reacted with fury and said any suggestion the UK was not committed to European security was a ‘gross misrepresentation’ of the work of British troops.
In an excoriating statement, he said: ‘Our Armed Forces have played a key role in keeping our country and Europe safe.
‘We remain completely committed to European security – to suggest any different is a gross misrepresentation of the great work of brave service men and women.’
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured left) hit back at Michel Barnier (pictured right) for accusing Britain of deserting the fight against terrorism by backing Brexit
Sources said he took particular ‘umbrage’ to suggestions the UK was not pulling its weight in the fight against terror.
The explosive comments came after Mr Williamson, who was given the job earlier this month, pledged to fight on behalf of the Armed Forces.
The row started on Wednesday when Mr Barnier gave a speech in Germany after he briefed acting Chancellor Angela Merkel on developments in Brexit talks.
He cited recent attacks such as those in Paris and Brussels as a reason for members to stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’.
But he said the British had chosen ‘to be on their own again’ at a critical moment by voting to cut ties with Brussels.
He said it was a decision that came just as the need to stand together was ‘so strong, so manifest’.
His comments came despite repeated assurances by the Prime Minister that the UK will offer ‘unconditional’ defence and security support in the aftermath of Britain’s split with the EU.
Theresa May, pictured in Iraq yesterday where she announced an extra £10million for the fight against Islamic state terrorism
The decision to target the UK over its commitment to security – despite being seen as the bloc’s leader on such issues – was described as insensitive given the series of recent jihadist attacks in Britain.
Referring to the referendum he said: ‘It was a decision that came after a series of attacks on European soil, committed by young people who grew up in Europe, in our countries.
‘It was a decision that came six months after the French minister of defence issued a call for solidarity to all his European counterparts to join forces to fight the terrorism of Daesh [IS].’
He added: ‘Never had the need to be together, to protect ourselves together, to act together been so strong, so manifest.
‘Yet rather than stay shoulder to shoulder with the Union, the British chose to be on their own again.’
His comments sparked outrage, with UK officials accusing Mr Barnier of an extraordinary slur, admonishing his comments behaviour as ‘irrational and stupid’.