Tory Brexiteer Mark Francois today launched an extraordinary attack on the German head of Airbus for threatening to pull the firm out of the UK.
Mr Francois accused Tom Enders of ‘Teutonic arrogance’ for warning about the consequences of no deal.
And invoking his father Reginald’s part in the D-Day landings, the MP said: ‘He never submitted to bullying by any German. Neither will his son.’
Mr Francois’ father Reginald was an engineer who served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, and a minesweeper on D-Day.
The furious rebuke – which culminated with Mr Francois ripping up a copy of Mr Enders’ words live on television – came as politicians continued to clash over Brexit.
Theresa May is struggling to find a way through the Parliamentary deadlock, with Conservatives split over whether to go for no deal if the EU will not compromise.
Mark Francois (pictured today) accused Tom Enders of ‘Teutonic arrogance’ for warning about the consequences of no deal
Yesterday Mr Enders stepped up warnings about the consequences of crashing out, branding the government’s handling of Brexit a ‘disgrace’
Yesterday Mr Enders stepped up warnings about the consequences of crashing out, branding the government’s handling of Brexit a ‘disgrace’ and suggesting Airbus might need to pull out of the UK if close ties to the EU do not carry on.
Ministers praise the Queen’s ‘wise’ call for calm on Brexit
Using barely coded language in a speech to her local Women’s Institute in Norfolk, the Queen said she preferred ‘respecting different points of view’
Ministers praised the Queen today after she urged people to seek ‘common ground’ in an apparent plea for compromise on Brexit.
Speaking at an event in Sandringham, the monarch stressed the importance of ‘respecting’ other views and said everyone needed to keep the ‘big picture’ in mind.
The comments have been endorsed by a slew of senior politicians amid the bitter wrangling over relations with the EU.
Theresa May’s spokesman echoed the remarks, while Chancellor Philip Hammond said Britons had always been ‘pragmatic’ in solving problems.
‘I think there is huge wisdom in those words and I don’t think anybody will be at all surprised to hear the Queen advocating the view that in all things controversial we should seek compromise, we should seek common ground and we should seek a way forward,’ he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
‘That is actually what we do in this country, that is how we solve problems, by compromise and pragmatism.
‘It’s been our enormous strength over centuries that we have been able to find compromises that bring the nation together.’
Interviewed on BBC New this afternoon, Mr Francois vented his anger at the intervention.
He said: ‘It’s a classic example of the sort of Teutonic arrogance which is one of the many reasons why people voted to leave the European Union.
‘If he thinks because he runs a big company he can bully British MPs how to vote he is going to be sorely mistaken.
‘My father Reginald Francois was a D-Day veteran. He never submitted to bullying by any German. Neither will his son.’
Tearing up a copy of the Airbus chief’s letter, he added: ‘So if Mr Enders is watching this is what he can do with his letter.’
His furious rebuke came as Mrs May faces a fresh Cabinet meltdown after Philip Hammond refused to rule out quitting if there is a no-deal Brexit.
The Chancellor underscored his warnings about the huge economic damage from crashing out of the EU – after causing a storm yesterday by saying it would be a ‘betrayal’ of the British people.
As tensions between ministers broke into the open, Mr Hammond admitted some of his Remainer colleagues in Cabinet viewed Tuesday’s Commons votes, which could pave the way for a Brexit delay, as ‘high noon’.
Despite Amber Rudd hinting she might quit if Mrs May orders Tory MPs to vote against a cross-party amendment intended to extend the Article 50 process, Mr Hammond said he thought there was still time to defuse the crisis.
However, asked whether he would stay in No11 if Mrs May backed no deal, Mr Hammond repeatedly dodged the question.
‘I’m not going to speculate because a lot depends on the circumstances, what happens,’ he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
‘The responsibility I have is to manage the economy in what is the best interests of the British people.’
Yet, in a glimmer of hope for the PM’s Brexit deal, there were reports today that the DUP will back her plan if the Irish backstop is time limited.
According to The Sun, the DUP has indicated it is ready to ‘help’ Mrs May by accepting a package as long as there is a ‘short time limit’ to the Irish border provisions – which they fear risk splitting the UK.
A number of senior Tories, including 1922 chair Graham Brady, have signed a change proposed by former minister Andrew Murrison that would end the backstop in December 2021. However, hard-line Brexiteers such as Jacob Rees-Mogg have yet to show their hand.
The shift could open the door for Mrs May to return to Brussels with a clear mandate in the wake of the Commons showdown on her ‘Plan B’ on Tuesday.
And in a rare public intervention, the Queen last night urged people to seek ‘common ground’ in an apparent plea for compromise on Brexit.
In a speech to the Women’s Institute in Sandringham, the monarch stressed the importance of ‘respecting’ other views and said everyone needed to keep the ‘big picture’ in mind.
The comments have been endorsed by a slew of senior politicians amid the bitter wrangling over relations with the EU.
Asked this morning about the Queen’s rare foray into politics, Mr Hammond told the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme ‘I think there is huge wisdom in those words and I don’t think anybody will be at all surprised to hear the Queen advocating the view that in all things controversial we should seek compromise, we should seek common ground and we should seek a way forward.’
‘That is actually what we do in this country, that is how we solve problems, by compromise and pragmatism.
‘It’s been our enormous strength over centuries that we have been able to find compromises that bring the nation together.’
Conservative MPs and ministers took to Twitter to express their support for the Queen’s words.
Sharing lines from her speech, Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted: ‘I agree with the Queen.’
Amber Rudd, Work and Pensions Secretary, said: ‘Wise words from the Queen.’
While Bim Afolami, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, wrote: ‘The Queen is right.’
Meanwhile, furious Tories turned on Emmanuel Macron today after he launched an all-out attack on Brexit – saying ‘it can’t be delivered’ and had ‘torn society apart’.
Eurosceptics demanded the French president apologise over his extraordinary rant at an event last night – urging him to focus on his own domestic woes.
MPs pointed out that the referendum was a ‘democratic decision’ and unlike France, the UK was not suffering any ‘rioting on the streets’.
The rebuke came after Mr Macron – one of the biggest Brexit hawks among EU leaders – rubbished the result of the national vote in June 2016, saying it showed how the public could be manipulated.
‘Be aware of people who sell you dreams, that tell you all your anger can be solved by a referendum. I’m scared of people who manipulate you with miracle ideas,’ he said.
Mr Macron was speaking to an audience in Bourg-de-Peage, south of Lyon, in a ‘people’s debate’.
Some were so-called Yellow Vest anti-government campaigners who themselves want France to leave the EU.
