EU diplomats shocked by Boris's 'four-letter reply' to business concerns about Brexit

Boris Johnson was embroiled in a diplomatic row with Brussels on Friday night after he was accused of using a four-letter word to dismiss an ambassador’s question about the post-Brexit needs of British business.

EU diplomats have claimed that during a Foreign Office reception to celebrate the Queen’s birthday last week, the Foreign Secretary was asked about the fears of some business leaders over Brexit and replied: “f*** business.”

He was also overheard talking about Theresa May’s moves towards a softer Brexit and saying: “We will fight it and we will win.” Mr Johnson was in conversation with Belgium’s ambassador to the EU Rudolf Huygelen at the event in Lancaster House, London, when he was overheard by two diplomatic sources making the comments.

Mr Johnson, the UK’s chief diplomat, admitted that Britain was more divided now than it had been since the English Civil War, after a speech in which he rhapsodised over the “wonderful project called Brexit”, it is claimed.

Sources close to Mr Johnson disputed whether he used the bad language alleged, while insisting that he had been attacking business lobbyists such as the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) which wanted a policy that suited their vested interests rather than ordinary working people.

News of the Foreign Secretary’s alleged outburst was greeted with disbelief and shock in Brussels.

One EU-27 diplomat told The Telegraph: “It is shocking for him declare he would take the battle directly to Theresa May and speaking so openly about it. He wasn’t hiding his intentions at all. “I was shocked by how crude and crass he was, as if he didn’t care for the consequences and especially not the economic consequences of Brexit.”

An EU diplomat from another country said, “The Conservatives are meant to be the party of business but now it looks like the European Commission is the best friend of British business.”

Asked about the allegations, a third diplomat from a country traditionally friendly to Britain simply said wearily: “Jesus Christ.”

Last night a source close to Mr Johnson said: “No-one has done more to back hard-working British businesses than Boris. “He was attacking lobbyists like the EU-funded CBI who are more interested in doing what’s right for big multinational corporations instead of helping ordinary working Brits.”

On Friday, plane manufacturer Airbus warned it could leave Britain if there was a no deal Brexit.

Mr Johnson’s comments about the Prime Minister and his open discussion of Cabinet divisions in front of ambassadors and embassy officials comes after a leaked recording earlier this month in which Mr Johnson suggested Donald Trump might do a better job of the Brexit negotiations.

In the leaked recording of his speech to a Conservative group a fortnight ago, Mr Johnson referred to The Treasury as “the heart of Remain”.

The EU is increasingly frustrated with Cabinet squabbles over Brexit, which it claims has slowed the pace of negotiations.  “How can we do a deal when we don’t even know who’s running this?,” one Brussels diplomat said.

Next week, EU leaders will meet in Brussels for a European Council summit where they are expected to condemn the lack of “substantial progress” made by Britain in putting forward a solution to prevent the return of a hard border in Ireland after Brexit.