Obama urged not to interfere in EU debate

Boris Johnson and the leave campaign

Op-Ed: It is unusual for this writer to agree with former London Mayor and top Tory Boris Johnson on anything but she does agree with him Monday as he "urges Obama not to intervene in EU debate."

US President Barack Obama is expected to make a visit to Great Britain in April. It will be his last as President of the USA as he winds down his second and final term in office.

He has already made it plain that he believes the UK is better staying a member country of the EU than leaving and so have some of his advisers. In February NEWTEKWORLDNEWS wrote "John Kerry may want Britain in EU but do you?"

But if POTUS allows himself to be dragged into the in /out EU debate here in the UK it will be a mistake and could act like reverse psychology on some voters.

Part of the problem is we Brits are fiercely independent and stubborn. We do not and will not take kindly to foreign interference in any shape or form.

Will the fact that form of interference from Obama will be advice from the leader of the country often called 'our greatest ally' make it acceptable?

Hardly, when only last week he raised a few hackles-"Obama criticises Cameron for having no long term Libya strategy after Gadaffi overthrow" wrote the IBTimes.

Seems we are not such great allies after all.

At time of writing BBC News says “No 10 has refused to comment on reports that the US president will use the visit to argue for the UK's continued EU membership.”

So how come his name in being bandied about and Boris Johnson is saying “it would be "outrageous hypocrisy" for US President Barack Obama to intervene directly in the EU referendum debate.”

“The London mayor wrote that it would be "wholly fallacious" of Mr Obama to use any trip to warn that the UK will lose global influence if it quits the EU.”

Downing Street, in other words David Cameron’s office, has said Mr Obama and other leaders are "worth listening to" but it will be a fine line between debate and interference.

Johnson supports the Brexit group campaigning for the UK to leave the EU whilst PM David Cameron is leading the BRemain campaign for the UK to stay in the EU.

But with the Tory government and in fact that political party spilt over Europe the waters are more than muddied.

The British electorate face a tough old time deciding whether Cameron’s alleged EU deal warrants an in / out vote on June 23 without everyman and his wife sticking their oars in.
 
For some voters though their minds and so their vote has been decided for years and the deal and views of others will not matter one iota.

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Obama is due to attend a technology fair in Germany in late April and a source told the Independent on Sunday he would visit the British capital around that time.

"It would be pretty shocking if he didn't ask voters to stay in the EU," the source was quoted as saying.

The White House declined to comment and Prime Minister David Cameron's office did not offer an immediate comment when contacted by Reuters......Business Insider