America and the European Union have been branded “terrified” of a successful United Kingdom. Former MEP John Longworth suggested these are unlikely to want to see Britain “out on its own”.
The Chairman of the Foundation for Independence appeared to suggest that those who dwell on Britain’s mistakes simply draw attention to its “potential”.
Washington and Brussels officials have taken jabs at the UK over the past week, following the market turmoil that ensued after former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget, which promised to deliver a series of unfunded tax cuts.
These have mostly since been rolled back by new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who insisted that in fixing the crisis, “nothing is off the table”.
But Joe Biden suggested the country should never have stumbled into these problems in the first place, branding the turmoil which followed the mini-budget “predictable”.
Asked in an Oregon ice cream shop about the problems which followed Liz Truss’s economic measures, the President said: “Well, it’s predictable. I wasn’t the only one that thought it was a mistake.”
“I think that the idea of cutting taxes on the super-wealthy at a time when – anyway, I just think – I disagreed with the policy, but that’s up to Great Britain to make that judgment, not me.”
Another likely to have thought as such was former Brexit negotiator for the EU Guy Verhofstadt, who joked on Saturday: “How’s Brexit going.”
He added: “One thing is for sure: the mess didn’t start in 2022 but in 2016.”
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“Pity that our political class are so cowardly.”
One particular theme of contention between Britain and both the US and the EU over recent months has been the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Washington officials, including Mr Biden himself, have made significant interventions, insisting a negotiated settlement must be reached in order to avoid repercussions from the states.
Brussels has also threatened on a number of occasions to launch a trade war with London should the ‘wrong’ approach be taken with regards to the post-Brexit treaty.
EU officials have long suggested that it is for British diplomats to offer more on the negotiation table for a settlement to be reached.
Irish Tánaiste Leo Varadkar did, however, earlier this month accept that parts of the Protocol were “too strict” in what appeared to be a major U-turn on the post-Brexit treaty.
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