The barnstorming Brexit speech that's going viral

A blistering assault on Brexiteers in the European Parliament, labelling them “political crooks”, is proving a viral sensation on social media.

Viviane Reding, a former European commissioner, said that rather than the “global Britain” promised by the likes of Boris Johnson and Liam Fox, Brexit was ushering in “a lonely Britain”.

And Britain was “at the mercy of the DUP at home and trade partners abroad,” the Luxembourger said.

The video has received thousands of retweets and likes since being posted online yesterday. Ms Reding, an MEP for Luxembourg’s Christian Social People’s Party, has served as a European commissioner for education and culture, information society and media and justice, fundamental rights and citizenship.

She told the parliament: “After 18 months of political denial, the UK has finally accepted the three divorce conditions. And now everybody knows what Brexit really means.

“Brexiters promised £350m a week to their citizens. Instead they have to pay billions of euros.

“They promised economic benefits. Instead the pound and the British growth are at their lowest.”

“Brexiters promised £350 million a week to their citizens, instead they have to pay billions of euros. They promised a global Britain, instead they got a lonely Britain.” Former European Commissioner Viviane Reding is “saddened British people [are] victim to political crooks”. pic.twitter.com/eBHNsrveAV

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) December 13, 2017

The Brexiteers “promised sovereignty”, she said.

“Instead the government is at the mercy of the DUP at home and trade partners abroad.

“They promised a global Britain. Instead they got a lonely Britain.

“They promised to take back control. Instead they are spinning out of control.

“I am saddened that British people have fallen victim to political crooks and that the result is a divided and weakened UK.

“Fortunately, the European family is united after the Brexit wake-up call. And fortunately the citizens’ problems found a positive solution in the first part of the negotiations. Thank you [European chief negotiator] Michel Barnier.”