Ex-minister McVey mercilessly mocked after claiming EU would force UK to adopt euro after 2020
A former Tory government minister has been ridiculed on social media after tweeting an article asserting that the EU will force the UK to join the eurozone after 2020 if it remains a member – a claim that is demonstrably false.
Former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, who resigned from PM Theresa May’s government in November over Brexit, posted a now-deleted tweet with a link to a 2014 Daily Telegraph piece titled: “After 2020, all EU members will have to adopt the euro.”
Are the public aware of this? And the many other things the EU has planned for its member states after 2020? #trust #WatchOut
It transpires that, according to the current EU treaty governing the UK’s opt-out of the euro, it is not obliged or committed to adopt the currency without a separate decision taken by its government or parliament.
McVey has been hit with an avalanche of tweets criticizing and mocking her false assertions, with #McVeyFacts trending with some hilarious erroneous “facts” and memes. Others focused on her apparent hypocrisy on the issue of “trust in our politicians.”
#McVeyFactsIn 2020 all cats with be forced by the EU to meow in 27 different languages #Brexitpic.twitter.com/OFL1xrgbKH
— Rabble Cat (@TheGraveside) March 11, 2019
Are the public aware that as of 2020 Wimbledon will be moved to Germany? #McVeyFacts
— Matt Poole (@mattpoole) March 11, 2019
It’s a little known fact that for in order to become a fully fledged MEP you must donate one organ to continue to sustain Jean Claude Juncker; and that chap gets through livers like there’s no tomorrow #McVeyFacts
— Disappointed Optimist (@disappoptimism) March 11, 2019
Are the public aware that after 2020 the EU says that dogs will have to adopt French as their official language? #McVeyFacts
— Daniel (@SuitablyManic) March 11, 2019
Esther McVey:“Trust in our politicians is at an all time low, it’s time to wake up”Esther McVey (12 hours later):“Ok I lied my balls off but I’m not apologising or deleting my tweet” pic.twitter.com/gNQ5iv8Kaj
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) March 11, 2019
McVey has ostensibly tried to gloss over the incident with a follow-up tweet noting that not everyone agreed with the article she posted. A number of journalists have slammed the pro-Brexit Tory MP for Tatton for not apologizing after making the incorrect claim.
Sky News Europe Correspondent Mark Stone asked McVey whether she was really that “ignorant” or whether she had “knowingly” misled the public.
From reading the comments, even if you don’t agree with the article I posted, I think we can all agree on one thing - we never want the UK to join the Euro True or false ? #truehttps://t.co/GGsGlQJfZn
— Esther McVey (@EstherMcVey1) March 10, 2019
.@EstherMcVey1 - this is simply (and demonstrably) NOT TRUE. You are an elected member of Parliament with responsibilities. Are you really so ignorant of the facts or are you knowingly misleading the public with nonsense? Genuine question. https://t.co/dShZtFFiG8
— Mark Stone (@Stone_SkyNews) March 10, 2019
The false claim about Britain being forced to join the Euro if it stayed in the EU has now been deleted from Esther McVey's twitter account, but no explanation or apology. She remains a member of Her Majesty's Privy Council
— Krishnan Guru-Murthy (@krishgm) March 11, 2019
McVey endured a turbulent time as work and pensions minister. In July 2018, many opposition MPs called for her dismissal after she admitted making “inadvertently misleading” statements about Universal Credit – the government’s flagship social welfare reform policy – in parliament.
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