London Mayor Boris Johnson warned President Obama Saturday against weighing in on the British debate over whether to remain in the European Union.
“I just find it absolutely bizarre that we are being lectured by the Americans about giving up our sovereignty, when the Americans wouldn’t even sign up to the International Law of the Sea, let alone the International Criminal Court,” Johnson told the BBC.
The White House suggested Thursday that Obama plans next week to speak out in support of British membership in the European Union, a stance that irked the flamboyant Johnson.
“They wouldn’t dream of sharing sovereignty,” Johnson said. “There is an intrinsic hypocrisy … if that is what [Obama] is going to say.”
The membership vote is important for Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, whose job could be endangered by a vote to leave the EU. Cameron favors remaining in the union. Johnson, who hopes to replace Cameron as prime minister, favors an “out” vote.
Cameron has recently struggled to explain his past ownership of an overseas bank account set up by his late father as tax shelter.
The immaculately polished Cameron contrasts notably with the off-the-cuff Johnson, whose personal troubles have been fodder for the British tabloids.
“If we fail to make the change now [on EU membership], then we will continue to be like passengers locked in the back of a minicab with a wonky satnav, driven by a driver who doesn’t have the perfect command of English,” Johnson said.
