Downing Street has hit back after Jean-Claude Juncker described national borders as “politicians’ worst invention”
Downing Street has rejected Jean-Claude Juncker's assertion that borders are “the worst invention” of politicians.
Speaking at the European Forum Alpbach yesterday, the European Commission president called on Europe to show “solidarity” with refugees, adding: “We have the duty not to follow populists but to block the avenue of populists.”
“Borders are the worst invention ever made by politicians,” Juncker said. “In the concentration of globalisation and European problems, we must not lose our way.”
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However, while Theresa May is still on holiday until later this week, that hasn't stopped Downing Street pushing back.
"That's not something the Prime Minister agrees with," a spokeswoman for May said earlier today.
“The British people think borders are important,” she added. “More control of our borders is important, and that's an issue that we need to address”
It comes after May secured a victory in convincing France to retain an existing programme of British border checks in Calais.
Loss of the Le Touquet agreement had been suggested as a potential consequence of the UK's Brexit vote, but French president Francois Hollande last month agreed to retain the system.