Boris Johnson’s comments on Ukraine and Brexit are an insult

Boris Johnson’s grotesque comparison of Ukraine’s bravery and fight for freedom in the face of Putin’s agression with the “freedom” voted for by a narrow majority of Britons in the 2016 Euro- referendum hits a new low even by his appalling standards. His comments are a gross and cruel insult to the people of Ukraine. They are insulting to the EU which Ukraine rightly sees as a bulwark of democracy not an oppressor. They are insulting to British voters too as if they couldn’t tell the difference between the freedom to vote in a referendum and having freedom taken away by military invasion.

Johnson talks about the large numbers who voted in the referendum but never says what we all know which is that the vote was very close with a tiny majority deciding the outcome in the face of a campaign of lies and misinformation – with apparently Vladimir Putin delighted by the outcome. His words show once again an unjustified triumphalism and contempt for the people of London, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Leeds and Bristol who all voted Remain. And not forgetting Scotland and Northern Ireland who once again are being ignored by our so-called pro-Union PM. Johnson’s words – not for the first time – bring shame on our country.