The French restaurateur and TV personality Fred Sirieix has criticised the former UKIP leader Nigel Farage for his role in promoting Brexit, which he said has damaged the economy and the hospitality sector.
Brexit has been a disaster for the UK, says Sirieix
In an interview with STV News, Sirieix said that he was “very angry” with Farage and his supporters for pushing for the UK to leave the European Union, which he said has caused a lot of problems for businesses and workers.
He said: “Brexit has been a disaster for the UK. It has been a disaster for the economy, it has been a disaster for the hospitality industry, it has been a disaster for the people who work in the hospitality industry.”
Sirieix, who is best known for hosting the dating show First Dates, said that he has seen the impact of Brexit on his own restaurants, where he has struggled to find staff and suppliers.
He said: “We have lost a lot of people who have gone back to their countries because they don’t feel welcome here anymore. We have lost a lot of suppliers who can’t get their products into the country because of the red tape and the bureaucracy. We have lost a lot of customers who can’t afford to go out anymore because of the inflation and the cost of living.”
Sirieix challenges Farage to a debate
Sirieix, who has lived in the UK for 30 years, said that he was proud to be a British citizen, but he felt betrayed by Farage and his campaign, which he said was based on lies and misinformation.
He said: “I think Nigel Farage is a liar. I think he is a coward. I think he is a traitor. He has destroyed the country that I love. He has destroyed the country that gave me so much opportunity. He has destroyed the country that made me who I am today.”
He added: “I would love to debate him. I would love to challenge him. I would love to ask him why he did what he did. I would love to ask him what he has to say to the millions of people who have suffered because of his actions.”
Sirieix urges people to stand up for their rights
Sirieix said that he was not afraid to speak his mind and to stand up for what he believes in. He said that he was inspired by his father, who was a member of the French Resistance during World War II.
He said: “My father taught me to be brave, to be honest, to be loyal, to be respectful, to be compassionate, to be generous, to be kind. He taught me to fight for what is right, to fight for justice, to fight for freedom, to fight for democracy.”
He urged people to follow his example and to voice their opinions and concerns about the state of the country and the world.
He said: “We have to speak up. We have to make our voices heard. We have to make a difference. We have to make a change. We have to make the world a better place.”
