The dominant next prime minister of the country, said that “the jury is still out” on whether the Frenchman is a friend or an enemy of the United Kingdom.
London, Thanasis Gavos
Her comment has provoked reactions from the British opposition and other politicians Liz Truss on Thursday night that “the jury is still out” on whether French President Macron is friend or foe of the UK.
The question was put to the British current Foreign Secretary and most likely next Prime Minister at the penultimate pre-election event attended by members of the Conservative Party in Norwich.
Her opponent in the claim for the prime ministership Rishi Sunak he replied that President Macron is a “friend”.
Ms. Trass’s response provoked approving laughter and applause among the party members present at the event, with her adding that she will judge the French leader “by actions and not by words”.
Emmanuel Macron has had a turbulent relationship with outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, with frequent clashes over the Brexit Protocol for Northern Ireland, fishing rights and migrant flows in the English Channel, Britain’s military deal with the US and Australia, the stance against Putin et al.
Reacting to Liz Truss’s comment the main opposition Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy accused her of “sad lack of judgment”. He added that the minister “offended one of Britain’s closest allies.”
A government official, according to the BBC, commented that Ms. Tras “completely undermined the relationship with France” with her comment and called her “pseudo-Thatcher”.
The former Conservative Foreign Secretary Alistair Burt spoke of a “serious mistake” by Mrs. Truss, while the former official of the May government, Gavin Barwell stated: “One would expect the Foreign Secretary to know that we are in a military alliance with France.”
At the same pre-election event, when asked if they would prefer their opponent or Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak answered “Liz Truss”while Ms. Trass answered “Boris Johnson”.
Meanwhile, the Financial Times report that Liz Truss is considering the possibility of activating it Article 16 of the Brexit Protocol for Northern Ireland, unilaterally suspending the validity of the said agreement, shortly after she became Prime Minister.
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