EU politicians clash over the blame for Brexit

European politicians have traded insults over Britain’s decision to quit the bloc, squabbling over who was to blame and what to do next.

Brexiteers were likened to rats off a sinking ship, while EU federalists were accused of pushing the unrealistic ideal of a “United States of Europe”.

“The Brexit heroes of yesterday are now the sacked Brexit heroes of today,” said European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, referring to former London mayor, Boris Johnson, and erstwhile Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, who relinquished the party chair on Monday. “Those who have contributed to the situation in the UK have resigned: Johnson, Farage and others,” Mr Juncker said, at a European Parliament debate in Strasbourg. “They are retro-nationalists, not patriots. Patriots don’t resign when things get difficult. They stay.”