Andrew Neil mocks Labour’s Emily Thornberry as she says Germany ‘always being a key ally’ | Politics | News
Emily Thornberry said Germany had ‘always been a key ally’ (Image: Getty)
Andrew Neil has mocked Dame Emily Thornberry after the Labour MP praised Germany as a country that has “always been a key ally”, comparing her to a British politician associated with appeasement towards Nazi Germany. Mr Neil wrote on X: “I guess she was absent when they did German history at school. Lady Thornberry. The Lord Halifax de nos jours.”
His reference to Lord Halifax was a pointed historical jibe at the Foreign Affairs Committee chair, whose comments came during a meeting with German politicians at Westminster. Dame Emily reportedly told the delegation: “Germany is and always has been a key ally.” She also described the meeting as “a unique and historic day”, adding: “We are so honoured.”
The session brought together members of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee and their counterparts from the German Bundestag to discuss bilateral relations, the war in Ukraine and wider European security.
But Mr Neil’s invocation of Lord Halifax drew attention to a very different chapter in British-German relations.
Lord Halifax served as Foreign Secretary from 1938 to 1940 and was a prominent figure during the policy of appeasement pursued by the British Government towards Adolf Hitler’s Germany before the Second World War.
In September 1938, Britain and France agreed to the Munich Agreement, which allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia in an attempt to avert a wider conflict.
The deal became a defining symbol of appeasement after Hitler continued his territorial expansion, invading Poland in September 1939 and triggering Britain’s declaration of war.
Nazi leader Adolf Hitler (Image: Getty)
Lord Halifax remained Foreign Secretary during the early months of the conflict before Winston Churchill became prime minister in My 1940. He subsequently served as Britain’s ambassador to the United States.
Mr Neil’s comparison suggested that Dame Emily’s description of Germany as a longstanding ally overlooked the country’s history as Britain’s enemy during two world wars.
Britain and Germany fought on opposing sides in both conflicts, with Nazi Germany launching a sustained bombing campaign against British cities during the Blitz in World War 2.
However, relations changed dramatically after 1945, with West Germany becoming a key Western ally during the Cold War and joining NATO in 1955.
Following German reunification in 1990, the country emerged as one of Europe’s leading economic and political powers.
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Today, Britain and Germany are both members of NATO and cooperate on defence, intelligence and international security. Germany is also a major British trading partner.
The two countries signed a Treaty on Friendship and Bilateral Cooperation in July 2025, committing them to closer collaboration across defence, security, economic growth and other areas.
The agreement reflects growing concern about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the threat posed by sabotage, cyberattacks and other hostile activity.
Dame Emily’s remarks came as the Government seeks to strengthen ties with Berlin, presenting Germany as a crucial partner in confronting modern security challenges.
Mr Neil’s intervention, however, highlighted the historical baggage behind the language of British-German friendship, drawing a sharp contrast between today’s alliance and the appeasement politics associated with Lord Halifax before the outbreak of war.
