Macron is right: Brexit is to blame for small boats crisis

If there was one thing that symbolised what many still see as the fraudulent approach of Brexiteers during the EU referendum campaign, it was the infamous bus promising £350m extra a week for the NHS.

- DAVID MADDOX POLITICAL EDITOR

But maybe Brexit critics should consider another image.

In the view of Emmanuel Macron, expressed during a joint press conference with Keir Starmer on Thursday to unveil a one in, one out migration exchange deal, the real whopper was told by Brexiteers when, in 2016, Nigel Farage unveiled his controversial poster featuring thousands of migrants at the EU border alongside the slogan “Breaking Point”. It came with a claim that if the UK did not leave the EU, it would be forced to accept all those preparing to stampede across Europe.

In an epic rant on the subject of Brexit, the French president, who refused to meet with Farage during his three-day state visit, was clear that he considered this the biggest lie of all.

To the obvious embarrassment of the prime minister, who was standing next to him, Macron did not hold back on his view that promises to control immigration, both legal and illegal, and to put an end to out-of-control numbers, had been used disingenuously by those who wanted to leave the EU.

He said: “The British people were sold a lie that the problem was Europe. For the first time in nine years, Britain is being pragmatic.” But it is worth looking at the detail of what he said, in terms of how leaving the EU not only failed to solve the problem but made it worse.