Boris Johnson compares EU to Hitler
The former Mayor of London has compared the aims of the EU to build a "superstate" with that of Hitler's, in an interview.
“Napoleon, Hitler, various people tried this out, and it ends tragically,” the Brexit backer said, adding that while "different methods" were being used by Brussels, unifying Europe under one "authority" was the same goal.
“The EU is an attempt to do this by different methods. But fundamentally what is lacking is the eternal problem, which is that there is no underlying loyalty to the idea of Europe. There is no single authority that anybody respects or understands. That is causing this massive democratic void,” he said speaking to the Sunday Telegraph.
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Johnson's claims have been met with anger from campaigners of the Remain campaign.
Labour's former cabinet minister Yvette Cooper accused Johnson of playing a "nasty, nasty game".
"The more he flails around with this kind of hysterical claim, the more he exposes his shameful lack of judgement, his willingness to play the most divisive cynical politics, and the emptiness of his arguments," said the member of Britain Stronger in Europe.
"One week it is dog whistle attacks on President Obama. Now he is trying to liken the institution that has kept peace on our continent for decades with Hitler, who pursued the genocide of millions of innocent people."
Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn said: "Leave campaigners have lost the economic argument and now they are losing their moral compass After the horror of the second world war, the EU helped to bring an end to centuries of conflict in Europe and for Boris Johnson to make this comparison is both offensive and desperate.”
Johnson said throughout the last 2,000 years of history there have been repeated attempts to unify Europe and recover a lost "golden age" under the Romans.
The comments come at the same time that a new poll revealed the public trust Johnson more than the Prime Minister and Remain supporter David Cameron when it comes to the matter of the EU.
The ComRes poll of more than 2,000 people found 45 per cent chose Johnson when asked "who was more likely to tell the truth about the EU", compared to 21 per cent who said Cameron.
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Meanwhile Ukip leader Nigel Farage has revealed he would back Johnson as Prime Minister if Britain does vote to leave the EU in the upcoming referendum on 23 June. Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, he said: "Boris goes on surprising people. They say he can't do this, he's a joker – it's like Ronnie Reagan. Could he do it? Yes. If you'd asked me six months ago I'd have said no but I've changed my mind."
"I love Boris, respect him, admire him; I’m a Boris fan. Could I work for him? Yes. Could I see a scenario if he was PM and he asked me to do something? I wouldn’t rule it out," he continued.
In the televised debates on the EU referendum, Farage will go up against the Prime Minister, who has said he will not stand down if Britain does vote in favour of leaving.