Everyone from the 2020 Brexit negotiating team has been rewarded in the Queen’s New Year Honours list (yes, really) and Lord Frost has been duly roast after congratulating them.
The former Brexit minister who led negotiations resigned last month over “concerns about the current direction of travel” of the government and made his feelings clear in a letter to Boris Johnson sharing his wish for the PM to “not be tempted” in addressing Covid with “coercive measures.”
In reaction to the New Years Honours list, he tweeted: “Huge congratulations to everyone from the British negotiating team from 2020 who received an honour this New Year. I’m very glad to see proper recognition for those who worked so hard and did such a brilliant job for our country. They really deserve it.”
Huge congratulations to everyone from the British negotiating team from 2020 who received an honour this New Year.
— David Frost (@DavidGHFrost) January 1, 2022
I'm very glad to see proper recognition for those who worked so hard and did such a brilliant job for our country. They really deserve it.
It appears Lord Frost’s tweet has since backfired, given the strong response from people on Twitter questioning whether the peer is joking in his complimentary message, when - let’s face it - Brexit hasn’t exactly been plain sailing.
Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter
Alistair Campbell made his feelings clear and suggested the tradition of using the Honours list to reward people is a “failure.”
The great British tradition of using the honours system to reward failure https://t.co/6WhQmD8IZN
— ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) January 1, 2022
Labour MP for Wallasey, Angela Eagle informed Lord Frost: “Sarcasm doesn’t work on Twitter.”
Sarcasm doesn’t work on Twitter https://t.co/52nfh4saEY
— Angela Eagle DBE (@angelaeagle) January 1, 2022
From one peer to another, Lord Adonis couldn’t quite believe what he was reading and replied insisting Lord Frost’s tweet “must be a spoof.”
This must be a spoof https://t.co/rwKweXeeQC
— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) January 1, 2022
Former Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron sarcastically said if Brexit negotiators have been honoured then there’s “genuine hope” for the England test cricket team... who have just had their worst performance in the Ashes, losing the urn to Australia in a record-breaking time.
I haven’t checked the honours list. But if these characters really have got gongs, then there’s genuine hope for the lads in the England test cricket team having done such a brilliant job for their country in Australia… https://t.co/btyytJRFyJ
— Tim Farron (@timfarron) January 1, 2022
Former footballer and pundit, Gary Neville is known for being outspoken on political matters on Twitter and Lord Frost’s tweet certainly fired him up as in response he declared: “Taking the piss to the end!”
Taking the piss to the end !
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) January 1, 2022
Dragons Den star and businesswoman Deborah Meaden described Lord Frost’s tweet as “empty words.”
Words. Empty Words. https://t.co/CZpnK1aJ2Z
— Deborah Meaden 💙 (@DeborahMeaden) January 1, 2022
Former rugby player and pundit Brian Moore questioned whether “parody accounts get blue ticks now?”
Do parody accounts get blue ticks now? https://t.co/FY81WL1N1o
— Brian Moore (@brianmoore666) January 1, 2022
Many more also ripped into Lord Frost over his congratulatory tweet and questioned the Honours system.
You are my favourite satirist
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) January 1, 2022
You negotiated a deal that made UK-EU trade drop by 68% last year, has forced farmers to burn over 20,000 pigs due to worker shortages and which the @OBR_UK says will be twice as damaging to the UK economy as the GODDAMN PANDEMIC...
— Femi (@Femi_Sorry) January 1, 2022
And you're celebrating?pic.twitter.com/hY7Pa3OdKP
Rewarded for ruining the country. https://t.co/zvU7gN39m3
— Mark Moraghan 💙 (@MarkMoraghan) January 2, 2022
I have no doubt they worked hard but their time and talents would be better used away from your brexit nonsense. https://t.co/vNbExxKWZQ
— Dr Paul McDonald (@Drpaulmcdonald2) January 2, 2022
This is insane. By any measure, they failed. But that is the Govt we have now. They actively reward failure. They protect their self interest at the expense of the populace. https://t.co/NMDSYkj3vv
— Catherine Kodicek (@Cath_Kodicek) January 2, 2022
You can say whatever you want…. Doesn’t make it true https://t.co/Wh1hzkzjkg
— John James (@johneee_niner) January 2, 2022
It's this kind of brainless self-delusion and/or brazen gaslighting that has got us into this mess.
— A C Grayling #FBPE 3.5% #Reform #Rejoin #FBPA 🐟 (@acgrayling) January 2, 2022
Frost is certifiable. https://t.co/qAPOcpreEf
Speechless. The Audacity of self-congratulation and pride in inflicting permanent damage on the country https://t.co/O6ke8EXcfP
— Nicholas Fry (@ROFLMFAO21) January 2, 2022
While the 2020 Brexit negotiation team received an honour, others on the Honours list this year include Prof Chris Whitty, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, and former prime minister Tony Blair have been knighted, and actresses Joanna Lumley and Vanessa Redgrave have been made dames.
