Remembrance Sunday Outrage As Leave.EU Deletes 'Shameful' Tweet Linking War Dead's Sacrifice To Brexit

The campaign group for leaving the EU was accused of "shameful opportunism" for a Remembrance Sunday tweet that suggested a Brexit would honour the sacrifice of Britain's war dead. At 12.01pm, an hour after the two-minute silence on Sunday, the official twitter for Leave.EU tweeted: "Freedom and democracy. Let’s not give up values for which our ancestors paid the ultimate sacrifice".
It was accompanied by a photo of a veteran surrounded by poppies.




The tweet was deleted around an hour later after a barrage of criticism, including from people who supported Britain leaving the EU.
A spokesman for Britain Stronger in Europe told HuffPost UK: "Remembrance Sunday is a time for reflection and honouring the fallen, not making crass political points."
"Shameful" was a popular choice of word to describe the tweet when it went online.

Whatever you think of the referendum, this is shameful campaigning pic.twitter.com/EL9D6qZVId
— Rupert Myers (@RupertMyers) November 8, 2015

This is shameful and you should remove this tweet https://t.co/APdESdai6z
— Jessica Elgot (@jessicaelgot) November 8, 2015

.@LeaveEUOfficial Whether you're for or against #Brexit, this is shameful opportunism.
— J. J. Lindsley (@letuckshop) November 8, 2015

Others doubted whether those who fought in both world wars did so to prevent Britain joining a union of European states.

@LeaveEUOfficial glad my relatives fought for your right to chat utter shite
— t o m (@td_rules) November 8, 2015

The group was accused of politicising Remembrance Sunday.

@LeaveEUOfficial As someone who supports the UK leaving the EU I am ashamed to see you use Remembrance Sunday for point scoring. Disgraceful
— Ali L (@Alichat66) November 8, 2015

@LeaveEUOfficial This is a disgraceful insult to those who gave their lives. How dare you politicise #Remembrance
— FW (@frozenwarning) November 8, 2015

Andy Wigmore, the head of communications for Leave.EU, tweeted that the he "apologised unreservedly" for the tweet.
"This was not intended to offend," he said.

On behalf of Leave.eu we apologise unreservedly this was not intended to offend https://t.co/UQ4ISUgLFL
— Andy Wigmore (@andywigmore) November 8, 2015

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/11/08/remembrance-sunday-leave-eu-tweet_n_8503930.html?utm_hp_ref=uk


Completely disgusting on every level.

It makes a change from the poppy burning I guess.

I do think that people should leave this stuff alone on Remembrance Sunday.