‘Delusional’ Brexiteers will die soon, says Ryanair chief

CEO of the low coast aireline Ryanair Michael O Leary speaks during a press conference, in London, on March 2, 2022 announcuing the 14 new routes from the three London airports. (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP) (Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images) - TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images

The chief executive of Ryanair has claimed Britain will be forced to rejoin the European Union’s single market by a generation of pro-Europeans as Brexiteers die out.

Michael O’Leary, the boss of Europe’s largest airline, claimed the British people had been sold a “tissue of lies” over the benefits of quitting the EU and said exiting the bloc had been “unbelievably messy”.

Mr O'Leary accused Boris Johnson of being “completely delusional” about Brexit and said leaving the EU would be a “net negative” in the next five years.

Ireland’s best-known businessman claimed Britain would be forced to rejoin the single market within the next 15 years, arguing that demographics would support the shift.

The 62-year-old said: “In the next five to 10 years, quite a number of the Brexiteers will die, as the average age of them is about over 70. Younger people coming through are much more pro-European.”

Mr O’Leary has been a long-standing critic of Brexit and campaigned for the “remain” vote during the 2016 referendum.

EMBARGOED TO 2230 SATURDAY MARCH 18 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (left), alongside the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt (second left). Labour has stepped up pressure on Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt to drop changes to pension allowances that fail to benefit the "vast majority" of Britons. The Opposition has said it will reverse the Chancellor's Budget pensions tax break for high earners if it gains power at the next general election. Issue date: Saturday March 18, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story POLITICS Budget. Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire - Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Speaking at a Bloomberg event, Mr O’Leary said: “Everything that was promised to the UK population, the sunny uplands and the ability to do trade deals everywhere around the world were shown to be a tissue of lies.”

“We mistakenly assumed there would be some kind of competence at the top of the government under Johnson and they would at least put the economy first and do a sensible deal.

“It turns out that was completely delusional, just like Johnson and the rest of his Brexit cohort.”

The Ryanair chief said he was “more optimistic” now that Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt are in office but launched a broadside against aviation minister Baroness Vere, calling her “not the brightest sandwich in the picnic basket.”

The budget airline boss said visas had become “ludicrously expensive” for EU staff, costing up to £3,000 each.

He said: “The problem we find dealing with the government is there’s an obsession in most departments to find excuses that show where Brexit benefits.

“Duty free is back on flights to and from Europe, that’s about the only benefit.”

Mr O’Leary previously claimed last summer’s airport disruption across the UK was “completely to do with Brexit” over the struggle to hire EU workers.