Rupert Murdoch has declared the Brexit result of the EU referendum “wonderful” and compared the decision to withdraw from the European Union as like “a prison break….we’re out”.
The Eurosceptic media mogul and News Corp boss is known for airing his views on Twitter, but kept uncharacteristically quiet about his views in the run-up to the referendum.
But his newspaper The Sun, one of Britain's most-read papers, urged its readers to vote for a Brexit in a front page anti-EU editorial 10 days before the EU referendum, while The Times took an opposing pro-EU stance.
He finally gave his verdict on Brexit at a Times CEO summit on Tuesday evening. In comments reported by The Times, Murdoch told the invite-only audience of business leaders a “momentous decision” was made last week, adding: “[Brexit] was a bit like prison break…we’re out.”
Murdoch, 85, also had a warning for leadership contender Boris Johnson in the wake of anger after Nigel Farage disowned a Leave pledge to spend £350 million of European Union cash on the NHS after Brexit: “If he backtracks on serious things there could be another bloody revolt.”
Other high-profile figures celebrating the result include Liz Hurley, Katie Hopkins, Joan Collins and Donald Trump. Mr Trump made his feelings clear on Brexit almost immediately after the result while in Scotland, where he claimed voters “took back control of their country” and promised strong ties between an independent Britain and a Trump Administration.
