Expats Hijack UK Ambassador Meetup As Tusk Gives Tirade In Ireland

Published:  22 Feb at 6 PM
Want to get involved?

Become a

Featured Expat

and take our interview.

Become a

Local Expert

and contribute articles.

Get in

touch

today!

Expats in France are getting angrier and angrier as Brexit grinds on!

The British Ambassador’s recent Brexit question and answer meetup in Paris didn’t quite go as intended, with furious British expatriates grilling and roasting the diplomat over the total lack of protection of their rights. Ambassador Edward Llewellyn ploughed through his planned speech emphasising how Theresa May was protecting expat rights, only to be met with heckling and bitter laughter from the assembled crowd. Worse still, when hit with well-researched and detailed questions from the attendees, the British diplomatic team, including the ambassador, simply failed to answer.

It seems the ambassador wasn’t expecting the response he received, with his reaction to his audience’s derision highlighting the expat strength of feeling about the mismanagement of negotiations in just about every issue important to Britons living in France. The only answer he gave was to one questioner who asked whether the government had any plans for a second referendum, with his predictable reply in double negative mode stating it will not happen and adding ‘A second referendum is not government policy’. Some 100,000 Britons are living in France, almost all of whom don’t want to be forced back to the UK for purely political reasons.

At the same time, European Council president Donald Tusk gave a speech in Ireland, during which he slammed Brexit for having a disastrous effect on the bloc’s plans for a more integrated Europe. During his speech, he complained about the length of time he’s spending attempting to stop the bloc’s disintegration rather than working to ensure member states’ closer ties with each other. Brexit, he said, marks perhaps the saddest moment in Europe’s 21st century history, admitting he's furiously angry about the entire situation.

Comments » No published comments just yet for this article...

Feel free to have your say on this item. Go on... be the first!

Tell us Your Thoughts On This Piece:

RECENT NEWS

How To Feel Confident And At Ease When Speaking Dutch

Albert Both, from Dutch language school Talencoach, gives his advice on how to get confident speaking Dutch - even befor... Read more

Why Stress Isnt The Enemy Of High Performance But A Gateway To It

Most of us grow up thinking about stress as something to avoid, manage or eliminate. Especially in high-achieving envir... Read more

Permits And Visas For Artists And Creatives Working In The Netherlands

Are you heading to the Netherlands for a creative project? Make sure you know which type of visa or work permit you will... Read more

Understanding False Self-employment In The Netherlands

As an expat working as a freelancer or sole trader in the Netherlands, it is important to understand the concept of fal... Read more

How Reframing Your Business Model Can Revolutionise Your Marketing

As a business owner, you know that marketing is an essential part of a successful business. It makes sense that that's w... Read more