The Irish Prime Minister was today accused of ‘talking rubbish’ after he said he felt sorry for British war veterans having to endure Brexit because they fought for Europe too.
Leo Varadkar reeled off a long list of people he insisted will suffer from Britain quitting the Brussels club – including businesses and students.
And he singled out Second World War heroes saying they had ‘fought on the beaches of France’ not just for Britain but to protect and further ‘European values’.
His remarks, made to the European Parliament today, were greeted with applause and nods of agreement from politicians from the bloc.
But they were mocked in Britain by Tory MP James Gray – who has served in the Territorial Army – who pointed out that D-Day happened in 1944, before the EU ‘was a twinkle in anyone’s eye’.
And Tory darling Jacob Rees-Mogg told Mail Online the Irish Prime Minister should brush up on his history.
Leo Varadkar (pictured at the European Parliament today) reeled off a long list of people he insisted will suffer from Britain quitting the Brussels club – including businesses and students. And he singled out Second World War heroes saying they had ‘fought on the beaches of France’ not just for Britain but to protect and further ‘European values’.
Mr Varadkar, a vocal critic of Brexit, told MEPs that ‘I really regret the decision on Brexit, because so much will be lost’.
He added: ‘Young people will lose their right to live, work and study anywhere in the European Union – losing those rights as European citizens.
‘My niece and nephew wont because they are entitled to Irish passports, but other kids in their class will and I think that’s a real shame.’
‘British businesses could lose their access to the biggest market in the world, farmers, food producers, even the beer makers that you and I are so fond of, could lose the subsidies they currently benefit from which are not guaranteed beyond this Parliament.
‘And also I’m conscious of British veterans, very brave people, who fought on the beaches of France not just for Britain but also for European democracy and for European values – and people like that are always on my mind.’
But Mr Gray, MP for North Wiltshire, told Mail Online the comments are ‘pretty weird’ because the fight against Hitler was nothing to do with the EU project.
Leo Varadkar’s comments mocked in Britain by Tory MP James Gray – who has served in the Territorial Army – who pointed out that D-Day happened in 1944, before the EU ‘was a twinkle in anyone’s eye’ (pictured, veterans at the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Landings in 2014)
He said: ‘If he was talking about D Day it’s patently obvious that the troops were of course not fighting for the EU because it didn’t exist at the time.
‘I just think it’s wrong, he is talking a lot of rubbish isn’t he?
‘I have met a great many of veterans of the Second World War in my time and I’ve never met one who thought they were fighting for the European Union.
‘And if that is what the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland thinks then he doesn’t know what he is talking about.
‘The EU wasn’t even a twinkle in anyone’s eye at that time.
‘Charles de Gaulle of course went to lengths to ensure that Britain didn’t form part of any link at all.’
Mr Rees-Mogg said: ‘Mr Varadkar forgets that Ireland was neutral during the war which implies it had no interest in Europe and Eamon de Valera (the former Irish PM) signed a book of condolence at the German Embassy in Dublin on the death of Hitler.
‘Perhaps if Mr Varadkar knew his own country’s undistinguished wartime history better his views on our history would be more informed.’