'Happy Brexit Day!' Boris Johnson blasts EU 'gloom-mongers' trolling Britain on the third anniversary of its departure as Guy Verhofstadt blames the UK for Putin's invasion of Ukraine and Michel Barnier praises 'European' Keir Starmer

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Boris Johnson urged Brits to ignore Brexit 'gloom-mongers' on the third anniversary of the UK's EU departure - as former leading Brussels figures trolled the nation.

The former prime minister used a Twitter video to claim the rollout of the Covid vaccine proved that leaving the bloc had been worthwhile.

His intervention came as senior EU players in the Brexit saga weighed in on the landmark date. 

The most left-field claim came from whacky former Belgian PM and arch federalist Guy Verhofstadt, who suggested Brexit was to blame for Vladimir Putin's bloody invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile former EU negotiator Michel Barnier suggested that the UK had seen 'no added value' from leaving. He also lauded Sir Keir Starmer as 'a European', something the Labour leader may not appreciate as he tries to keep his party happy. 

Writing on Twitter this afternoon, Mr Johnson, now a backbench MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip in West London, said: 'Time to turn the tables on the gloom-mongers, and exploit the benefits of Brexit. Remember that vaccine rollout! Happy Brexit Day!'

The former prime minister used a Twitter video to claim the rollout of the Covid vaccine proved that leaving the bloc had been worthwhile

Former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt used the third anniversary of the UK's departure to suggest Russian autocrat Putin would not have dared to act if Britain had voted differently at the EU referendum in 2016

Mr Verhofstadt, a hardcore federalist, told the LBC radio station that Putin was trying to restore the Soviet Union and 'the only difference is that the Communist Party is replaced by his cronies'

But in a bizarre moment he added: 'A united Europe, certainly on defence matters, would make an enormous difference. I think maybe that without Brexit, maybe there was no invasion'

Earlier this week he trolled the UK on Twitter, saying it was his 'dream' for the UK and Ukraine both to join the EU within the next five years

He used a map based on polling by Focaldata and Unherd showing that in all but three of the 650 UK parliamentary constituencies a majority of voters believe Brexit was a mistake

READ MORE: Sadiq Khan suggests he won't hold a referendum on hated ULEZ expansion because he would LOSE like Brexit vote

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In a social media video, he insisted the UK's coronavirus vaccination rollout was as rapid as it was because 'we'd taken back control' of the Medical Health Regulation Agency (MHRA).

'We were able to license that vaccine faster than any other European country and that gave us a crucial edge,' he said.

'So today, on Brexit Day, as we look back at that vaccine rollout, let's also look forward to all the other ways in which we can change our country and our economy for the better.'

However, the idea that Brexit allowed the UK to act independently over vaccines has been debunked, as Britain had all the independent legal right to act even when it was a member, according to Full Fact.

Mr Verhofstadt used an interview on the landmark day to suggest the Russian autocrat would not have dared act if Britain had voted differently at the EU referendum in 2016.

He told LBC radio that Putin was trying to restore the Soviet Union and 'the only difference is that the Communist Party is replaced by his cronies'.

But in a bizarre moment he added: 'A united Europe, certainly on defence matters, would make an enormous difference. I think maybe that without Brexit, maybe there was no invasion.'

No10 hit back at him this afternoon, saying he was wrong to make such a connection. A spokesman said that Britain's response to the invasion had demonstrated 'the UK's commitment to European security'.

Mr Verhofstadt is one of the main cheerleaders for the EU to have its own army. Last week he celebrated Germany's belated decision to send tanks to Ukraine by saying: 'Time to build a real EU defence with jointly procured EU weapons.'

Earlier this week he trolled the UK on Twitter, saying it was his 'dream' for the UK and Ukraine both to join the EU within the next five years. 

He used a map based on polling by Focaldata and Unherd showing that in all but three of the 650 UK parliamentary constituencies a majority of voters believe Brexit was a mistake. 

He told LBC: 'Yeah, my dream was that I transmitted in a tweet yesterday was to say, let's hope that Britain can rejoin and let's hope that Ukraine can join and why not within five years? 

READ MORE: Former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier says 'there is a way' for Britain and EU to strike a deal to end Northern Ireland row

 

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'Maybe it's a little bit optimistic concerning the UK, but my feeling is when the last time when I was in London, that for the first time in the public opinion in Britain, people understand that Brexit was a wrong choice and that it has done a lot of damage to Europe and certainly to the UK.'

The poll of 10,000 people found that only in Lincolnshire was there still majority support for Brexit - Louth and Horncastle, Boston and Skegness, and South Holland and the Deepings.

The 'benefits of Brexit' will be used to 'empower communities and businesses', Rishi Sunak pledged last night.

Ahead of the third anniversary of Britain's departure from the EU today, he promised a renewed focus on exploiting the flexibilities and freedoms offered by no longer having to follow the Brussels rule book.

Meanwhile Mr Barnier will use an LBC interview tonight to attack Brexit and former Ukip leader Nigel Farage. 

'Nobody, even Mr Farage, has been able along these last five years to give me any proof of the added value of Brexit. The added value to be out of the union, out of the Customs Union, out of the single market. There is no added value to Brexit,' he told Andrew Marr in an interview to be broadcast this evening.

Asked about Sir Keir he added: 'I met several times Keir Starmer when he was on the side of the leader of the Labour Party, and I have a respect for him. I wrote my book; on our last meeting he seems to me that he has the capacity to be the Prime Minister of UK... And I think he's a European.

'I think that Keir Starmer as many, many politicians, even in the Tory Party, know that to face some global challenges, we have to work at a European level. Even if UK or Norway or Switzerland... we need to work as a continent to face some global challenges. Better together than alone.'

The Prime Minister, who backed the Leave campaign, said the UK had already made huge strides in harnessing the freedoms unlocked by Brexit, including the vaccine rollout and new trade deals.

'We've forged a path as an independent nation with confidence,' he added.

'We're cutting red tape for businesses, levelling up through our freeports, and designing our own, fairer farming system to protect the countryside.

'This is just the beginning of our plans and I'm determined to ensure the benefits of Brexit continue to empower communities and businesses right across the country.'

Mr Sunak has committed to reviewing more than 4,000 EU-derived laws this year and repealing those not suited to the UK's needs.

A poll published by Ipsos on Monday found 45 per cent thought Brexit was going worse than they expected, up sharply from 28 per cent in June 2021, including just over one in four (26 per cent) of those who voted Leave in the 2016 referendum.

Fewer than one in ten (9 per cent) - down six points on 2021 - said it was working out better than expected, while nearly two in five (39 per cent) said it was meeting their expectations, a seven-point drop.

Ipsos interviewed 1,000 GB adults aged 18-75 online on January 25 and 26.