Crawley MP compares IMF chief to fictional alien ET

Crawley's MP has compared the head of the International Monetary Fund to fictional film character ET on Twitter.
Crawley MP Henry Smith pictured last yearCrawley MP Henry Smith pictured last year
Crawley MP Henry Smith pictured last year

Christine Lagarde, managing director of the IMF since 2011, is set to meet the eurozone’s finance ministers today to talk about the implications of the UK leaving the EU.

Crawley MP Henry Smith tweeted a picture of ET next to Ms Lagarde, along with the caption: ‘EU funded IMF chief and ET - both other worldly’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He defended the tweet, saying was only ‘a bit of gentle ribbing as appears in the media all the time especially on Twitter’.

He explained that his criticism of Lagarde stemmed from the fact that the IMF was supporting the remain campaign in the lead up to the referendum, and was ‘biased’ because it was partly funded by the EU, while the ‘credibility of the organisation was questionable’.

Mr Smith, who is one of the MPs backing the Vote Leave campaign in the run up to next Thursday’s EU referendum, said: “If you look at Private Eye they have a look-alike, I think it was a bit of gentle ribbing as appears in the media all the time, especially on Twitter.”

Restating his position on the EU last month, he said: “My position is clear – I will be voting for the UK to Leave the EU.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“When listening to members of the Government explain how they are caught up in the realities of EU membership, I’ve only become more convinced at the lack of democratic accountability in the organisation.

“For the elected Government of the day – regardless of which party is in office – to be unable to use the courage of its convictions to enact reforms because such measures may be ‘against EU rules’ just seems wrong.

“Successful countries such as Switzerland, which trade with Europe while not being hamstrung by the European Union, are just one example. It has, for example, enjoyed the flexibility to complete a trade deal with China, something the British can’t do on their own whilst members of the EU and a trade deal that Brussels has failed to achieve.

“Let’s Leave an economically struggling, increasingly undemocratic political bloc, and allow us, as the world’s fifth largest economy, to look out at the rest of the world.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/crawleyobserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @Crawley_Obby

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Crawley Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.