Mayor Boris Johnson demanded an end to “anti-British rhetoric, buck-passing and name-calling” after days of scathing criticism directed at BP by the President and other US politicians.
Former Conservative Party chairman Lord Tebbit branded Mr Obama’s conduct “despicable”. And with the dispute threatening to escalate into a diplomatic row, Mr Johnson also appeared to suggest that David Cameron should step in to defend BP.
He spoke as the US onslaught against the firm became a “matter of national concern” — especially given its importance to British pensions, which lost much of their value today as BP shares plunged to a 13-year low.
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today whether he thought the Prime Minister should intervene, Mr Johnson said: “Well I do think there is something slightly worrying about the anti-British rhetoric that seems to be permeating from America. Yes I suppose that’s right.
I would like to see cool heads and a bit of calm reflection about how to deal with this problem rather than endlessly buck-passing and name-calling.
“When you consider the huge exposure of British pension funds to BP and its share price, and the vital importance of BP, then I do think it starts to become a matter of national concern if a great UK company is being continually beaten up on the international airwaves.
“OK, it has presided over a catastrophic accident which it is trying to remedy but ultimately it cannot be faulted because it was an accident that took place. BP, I think is paying a very, very heavy price indeed.”
Downing Street steered clear of criticising Mr Obama’s conduct but in an apparent reference to concerns over UK pensions highlighted the “broader impact” of the spill and the need to deal with it swiftly. British business chiefs are alarmed that tough talking by Mr Obama and other US politicians is undermining the battered oil giant
Mr Cameron is due to speak to Mr Obama at the weekend over the issue. Among the President’s criticisms of BP was his suggestion that chief executive Tony Hayward would have been axed if he had been working for him.
(Source: This London)
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6 Responses
thanks for waking up for the Obama party . now you see what Israel goes through every day with Obama.
Obama seems not to like countries that a friendly with the US, which somehow doesn’t win him any concessions from American’s enemies
One might argue that at heart, he’s an isolationist who wishes America had nothing to do with any foreigners (and from that perspective, distrust of allies is reasonable).
No akuperma, he hates western civilization as he was programmed to learn from the University of Chicago and Harvard.
Just imagine had an Israeli oil company (??) been the cause of all this. Would anyone demand an end to name calling? Especially the Brits?!
Had any one of the first ten people listed in a Nebraska phone directory been elected to the presidency, we wouldn’t be suffering through the “incompetency episodes” of this Chicago community organizer.
obama is an egotiscal maniac. He truely is a moslem since he bows before any of arab country and insult America’s friends. He will go down in history as the worst president if American can survive until he is forced out of office. You got your change you asked for America but you should have looked deeper. He is just a hollywood actor. He does not have the foggist idea how to do with the oil spill so he goes on angry like a bull in a china shop.