MAIL ONLINE: French president Nicolas Sarkozy launched an astonishing attack on Britain’s attitude to Europe last night.
The furious French leader was branded the ‘new de Gaulle’ after claiming the British can’t comprehend Europe because we are ‘an island’.
‘You come from an island, so maybe you don’t understand the subtleties of European construction,’ he snapped at BBC Newsnight’s economics editor Paul Mason.
Mr Sarkozy had been asked whether it was right for the European Union to be attempting to block an EU referendum and install a coalition government in Greece.
His outburst was quickly seen as evidence that the diminutive French premier has contempt for both Greece and Britain.
His comments come less than two weeks after he snapped at David Cameron at a Brussels summit, telling the Prime Minister to stop telling the eurozone ‘what to do’ about the economic crisis. ‘You have lost a good opportunity to shut up,’ he said.
Also at the Brussels summit Mr Sarkozy publicly snubbed Mr Cameron by turning away as the Prime Minister offered his hand in friendship. » | James Chapman and Hugo Duncan | Saturday, November 05, 2011
What is this? The 'Little Englanders' Saturday Forum'? Europhobia abounds on this small island. Sarkozy is right: The English don't understand Europe at all. I am so glad he didn't include the Celtic fringe in his assertion. I truly believe that you will find very different attitudes to the EU in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Attitudes to Europe in the English press rarely speak for me, not being English, and certainly no 'Little Englander'. – © Mark
This comment also appears here
