Brexit will allow Germany to fulfil Adolf Hitler’s dream of controlling Europe and effectively win the struggle that animated the Second World War, Lord Heseltine has claimed.
The former deputy prime minister, who was recently sacked from his Government advisory role for leading a Lords rebelling over Brexit, said the vote to leave the European Union (EU) had “handed” Germany the chance to rule Europe 70 years after they lost the war.
Speaking to The House magazine, Lord Heseltine said: “We’ve now abandoned the opportunity to influence Europe, the council of ministers will meet and we won’t be there.
“Our ability to speak for the Commonwealth within Europe has come to an end. The Americans will shift their focus of interest to Germany.
“If I can put it to you for some like myself, it was in 1933, the year of my birth, that Hitler was democratically elected in Germany.
“He unleashed the most horrendous war. This country played a unique role in securing his defeat. So Germany lost the war. We’ve just handed them the opportunity to win the peace. I find that quite unacceptable.”
He also claimed that to pursue Brexit and the will of the British electorate “runs counter to the judgements, however you value them, of every Conservative Prime Minister I have worked for – including this one”.
Tory MP Peter Bone immediately urged Lord Heseltine to apologise for the “appalling” comments. “They are very sad comments from someone who is driven by bitterness,” he told the Mail Online.
“I think if he sits down and sensibly thinks about his remarks he will quickly want to apologise for them. It is so inappropriate that anyone who reads it will be appalled.”
The row comes just days before Prime Minister Theresa May is due to trigger Article 50 and begin the formal process of leaving the EU.
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