‘Synthetic outrage’ over Boris Johnson's Hitler-EU comparison

Boris Johnson has dismissed criticism of his comparison between Adolf Hitler and the EU as “synthetic outrage”, after Conservative grandee Michael Heseltine suggested it had damaged his chances of ever leading the party.

Former deputy prime ministerMr Heseltine described the comments as reckless and irresponsible, while Mr Johnson’s fellow Leave campaigner Chris Grayling repeatedly declined to endorse them in a radio interview.

The Commons Leader said Mr Johnson is a “historian and he was making a historian’s comment” when he likened the EU to the Nazi dictator’s plans for domination of the continent.