Anger as Vance criticises Europe’s leaders in Munich

JD Vance has sparked a furious backlash for delivering an antiimmigration speech at the Munich Security Conference in which he attacked European leaders and backed those who voted for Brexit.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL MILLIE COOKE

The US vice-president was accused of “hypocrisy” and his speech described as “bizarre and dangerous” as he departed from the usual defence focus of speeches at the conference to lash out at the UK and EU over migration and free speech.

Mr Vance stunned gathered delegates as he criticised governments across the continent and accused Europe of “retreating from some of its most fundamental values”, claiming that freedom is in danger across the continent.

And he urged European countries to stem the flow of illegal migration, adding that voters do not want the “floodgates” open to millions. “No voter on this continent went to the ballot box to open the floodgates to millions of unvetted immigrants,” he said.

Turning to the UK, he added: “You know what they did vote for in England? They voted for Brexit and, agree or disagree, they voted for it. And more and more all over Europe, they're voting for political leaders who promised to put an end to out-ofcontrol migration. Now, I happen to agree with a lot of these concerns, but you don't have to agree with me.”

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller told The Independent: “Britain will not take lectures about political freedoms from the acolyte of a president who tried to undermine American democracy and now praises Putin. The British people will see straight through this hypocrisy."