The outgoing president of the European Council used a speech in Brussels to lay bare his aversion for Brexit in a stinging attack, claiming the UK will become a “second-rate player” on the world stage after it has broken ties with the EU. The Eurocrat also had a message for anti-Brexit campaigners calling for a second referendum, telling them “don’t give up”. The intervention from Mr Tusk, one of the EU’s most senior figures, will be seen as a boost to Remainers in the run up to the December 12.
Brexit Party MEP Rupert Lowe slammed Mr Tusk for sticking his nose into British politics, telling him “mind your own business”.
Mr Lowe, MEP for West Midlands, said on Twitter: “Eurocrats like Tusk will never understand Brexit.
“He’s just refused to run for election in Poland. Getting used to being unelected and unaccountable Donald?
“Always good to be reminded why Brexit is so, so important.”
Mr Tusk was told to mind his own business after backing Remainers’ bid to block Brexit (Image: GETTY)
Mr Tusk said the UK would be a ‘second-rate player’ after Brexit (Image: GETTY)
He went on to rebuke Hillary Clinton over her call for a report on Russia’s alleged interference in British politics to be published, while also accusing the EU chief of insulting British voters.
“We see in the press today Donald Tusk and Hillary Clinton insulting and deriding Brexit,” said Mr Lowe.
“All due respect, but mind your own business. British voters simply don’t care about your opinion!”
One Brexit voter tweeted in response to Mr Tusk’s speech: “Your’e an insult to freedom and democracy with comments like that.”
READ MORE: Brexit Party demands Boris ‘see the light’ and crush Remainers
Mr Tusk is preparing to stand down as European Council president (Image: GETTY)
Former Brexit secretary David Davis said it was “unwise” for Mr Tusk to wade into Britain’s domestic politics.
He said: “Foreign leaders should stay our of our democratic decisions, whether they are Obama, Trump or Tusk.”
Pro-Brexit voters also weighed in, accusing the former Polish prime minister of insulting Britain’s freedom and democracy.
Addressing an audience at the College of Europe in Bruges last night, Mr Tusk said: “I want to tell you something I wouldn’t have dared to say a few months ago, if I could be fired for being too frank.”
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Former Brexit secretary David Davis said foreign leaders should stay out of democratic decisions (Image: GETTY)
Mr Tusk said Britain could not play a global role without the EU (Image: GETTY)
In a dig at Donald Trump’s impeachment inquiry, he added: “And today it is simply too late to impeach Donald – at least the European one.”
He continued: “In fact, I envy John Bercow that he can finally honestly say what he thinks about Brexit. I will also touch up on the subject.
“I have heard repeatedly from Brexiteers that they wanted to leave the European Union to make the United Kingdom global again, believing that only alone it can truly be great.
“You could hear in their voices a longing for empire.
Mr Tusk urged People’s Vote campaigners to not give up their fight (Image: EXPRESS)
“But the reality is exactly the opposite. Only as part of a united Europe can the UK play a global role.”
He went on to say once the UK had broken ties with Brussels it would be an “outsider, a second-rate player” and added: “One of my English friends is probably right when he says with melancholy, ‘Brexit is the real end of the British empire.’”
Turing to the pre-Christmas ballot, he said: “The UK election takes place in one month. Can things still be turned around?
Mr Davis said it was ‘unwise’ for Mr Tusk to intervene in domestic politics (Image: GETTY)
“Hannah Arendt taught that things become irreversible only when parole start to think so.
“So the only words that come to my mind today are simply: Don’t give up. In this match, we had added time, now we are in extra time, perhaps it will even go to penalties?”
Mr Tusk, among the most outspoken anti-Brexit Eurocrats, made a reference to German-American philosopher Hannah Arendt whom the College of Europe has been dedicated to.
