John Cleese accuses London of not being 'an English city any more'

John Cleese has criticised Londoners for voting to remain in the European Union.

The 79-year-old Fawlty Towers star - who revealed last year he was moving to the Caribbean because he is “disappointed’ with Britain - accused the capital city of not being English.

Cleese tweeted: “Some years ago I opined that London was not really an English city any more. Since then, virtually all my friends from abroad have confirmed my observation So there must be some truth in it...

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“I note also that London was the UK city that voted most strongly to remain in the EU.”

Writer Caitlin Moran and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan were among those to respond to Cleese’s post.

Khan accused Cleese of sounding like his famous character, bumbling hotelier Basil Fawlty.

Writer Caitlin Moran retorted: “I hope there's a old Nevisian comedian ready to moan about how Charlestown won't "really be a Nevisian town any more. [sic]"

Comedian Dom Joly pointed out Cleese no longer lives in London and TV presenter Rik Edwards tweeted he had fallen out of love with the Monty Python star.

Presenter Anila Chowdry claimed Cleese failed to “recognise the benefits of multiculturalism”.

The Monty Python’s Flying Circus star - who lived in Los Angeles during the 80s and 90s before returning to the UK - has been an open supporter of Brexit, despite previously being a long-time supporter of the Liberal Democrats.

Last year he revealed his plans to move to the Caribbean island of Nevis due to his disappointment in the actions of “rightwing governments”, adding that he found the debate around Brexit, “one of the most depressing things about this country”.

He told BBC2’s Newsnight: “I just thought to myself: ‘Right I’ll just give up and try somewhere else.’”

Cleese described Nevis as “It’s one of the nicest islands I’ve ever been on. The relationship between the races is absolutely superb. The people there are really kind.”

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In an interview with AFP last year, fellow Python Terry Gilliam called Cleese an “idiot” for supporting the Leave campaign.

And Michael Palin told the Radio Times in 2016 that he felt “ashamed” of the racial abuse sparked by the result of the EU Referendum.

“I don’t think the British as a whole are racist at all.

“But there are some who are pretty vicious, and I’m ashamed of the racial attacks and people being shouted out in the street or told to go home, ‘Now it’s our country.’

“But these are shameful people and it makes me think, with Brexit, where is the better land that we’ve got? What is this better world? Is it really any better, or is it just a world where people can be abusive?”

Eric Idle - who lives in Los Angeles - has spoken out in support of a second referendum regarding the UK’s Brexit deal.

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