Guy Verhofstadt has launched a broadside against Boris Johnson, accusing him of engaging in a “combination of false promises, pseudo-patriotism, and foreigner bashing”.
The European Parliament’s Brexit chief said the frontrunner to be Britain’s next prime minister was “a man who continues to dissemble, exaggerate, and disinform the public about Brexit”.
“To those of us watching from the outside, the debate between the candidates confirms that they have learned nothing whatsoever from the past two years of negotiations with the EU,” Mr Verhofstadt wrote in a piece for the Project Syndicate website.
“Sadly, this comes as no surprise, given that the lead candidate is Boris Johnson, the Leave campaign’s most prominent architect and a man who continues to dissemble, exaggerate, and disinform the public about Brexit.”
The former Belgian prime minister, who has his eye on becoming president of the European Parliament, said Mr Johnson had “narrowly duped” people into voting to leave the EU and said he “continues to spread untruths”, including the idea that the Brexit deal can be renegotiated.
“To Johnson’s followers, however, he is more prophet than politician: only he can deliver a mythical “true Brexit” that will deliver the prosperity promised during the referendum campaign,” he continued.
“As is often the case with populists, reality does not square with Johnson’s ensorceling combination of false promises, pseudo-patriotism, and foreigner bashing. He and his fellow Brexiteers speak of a 'Global Britain' that will trade freely with the rest of the world, even as they drag their country down a path strewn with uprooted trade ties and substantial new barriers to commerce.”
Mr Verhofstadt highlighted the fact that the EU has continued to sign trade deals with other countries since the UK voted to leave, including Japan, South Korea, and Canada.
The frank criticism of Mr Johnson in the international press is a departure from Brussels’ treatment of Theresa May, who most EU officials and politicians were reluctant to criticise publicly.
Mr Johnson has said he would withhold the £39 billion divorce bill from the EU if it refuses to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement struck by his predecessor. The EU has repeatedly stated that it will not offer a new withdrawal agreement, most recently on Wednesday when a spokesperson said there would be no more talks "full stop".
The winner of the Tory leadership contest will be announced on 23 July after a ballot of the party's membership.
