LEAVE.EU has been the subject of a furious backlash after posting a distasteful tweet about the German chancellor.
Earlier today, a Downing Street source said that agreeing a deal with the EU was “essentially impossible” following a telephone conversation between Angela Merkel and Boris Johnson.
According to the Number 10 source, Merkel made clear that a deal based on Johnson’s latest proposals is “overwhelmingly unlikely".
READ MORE: Poll: voters will blame Parliament more than Johnson if Brexit delayed
The claim led Leave.EU to take to Twitter to hit out at the German chancellor.
Their tweet included a graphic of Merkel with the words: “We didn’t win two world wars to be pushed around by a kraut.”
Angela Merkel's demand that Britain leaves Northern Ireland to rot inside the Customs Union is reprehensible and shows the true colours of our supposed "European allies".
— Leave.EU (@LeaveEUOfficial) October 8, 2019
Enough of this nonsense, we walk away as an independent, self-governing nation in three weeks' time! 🥳🇬🇧👍
The anti-EU campaign group – co-founded by Aaron Banks – wrote on the tweet: “Angela Merkel's demand that Britain leaves Northern Ireland to rot inside the customs union is reprehensible and shows the true colours of our supposed ‘European allies’.
“Enough of this nonsense, we walk away as an independent, self-governing nation in three weeks' time!”
Among the thousands of replies, University of Surrey politics and philosophy lecturer Adrian Hutton wrote: “Appalling tweet. Please delete it.”
The Times’ diplomatic correspondent Cathrine Philip added: “Utterly disgraceful.”
Another Twitter user, Anja Nijenhuis, said: “You are giving the UK really a bad reputation. Greetings from the Netherlands.”
Comedy writer James Felton pointed out: “You didn’t win two world wars though, did you? Stop acting like you personally stormed the beaches of Normandy as a sperm you massive f***ing racists.”
You didn’t win two world wars though did you? Stop acting like you personally stormed the beaches of Normandy as a sperm you massive fucking racists.
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) October 8, 2019
Another Twitter user posted: "Disgraceful stuff. We aren't at war with Germany anymore! Jingoistic language like this may inflame those so inclined, but not the majority of our population!"
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel