Brexit: UK turning itself into North Korea, says Ryanair boss

Michael O’Leary also said he wished he had been invited to the Hungarian MEP orgy in Brussels

Destination Pyongyang? Ryanair currently flies to and from Bristol, but not yet to the North Korean capital (Simon Calder)

Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, has once again attacked Brexit – comparing the UK’s decision to leave the EU to North Korea’s isolationism.

Speaking at an online event hosted by Eurocontrol, the boss of Europe’s biggest budget airline said he had been “entirely vindicated” in campaigning for Remain in the 2016 referendum.

“Brexit’s been a shambles,” he said. “The Johnson government has been completely exposed with their promises of an easy trade deal and the sunny uplands.

“It is one of the great economic disasters of the UK shooting itself in the foot.

“It’s a tragedy. If isolationism was the secret to economic success, North Korea would be the great economic engine of the western world. It isn’t.

“Isolationism is doomed to failure. We need the UK as part of the strong single market in Europe, and the single market would be much stronger with the UK as a member.

“But we are where we are and we just have to get on with it.”

At present neither Ryanair nor any other airline has permission to fly between the UK and the European Union from 1 January onwards.

Mr O’Leary was also asked by Andrew Charlton, the interviewer: “What is it you’re most worried about?”

The Ryanair chief executive surprised the audience by saying:

“I think the fact that I wasn’t invited to the Hungarian MEPs’ orgy in Brussels.

“If I’d been asked what Eamonn Brennan [director-general of Eurocontrol] could do for me, get me a ticket for the next Brussels orgy. I’ve never been to one and I’d very much like to join in.”

Eurocontrol is based in Brussels.

There is no suggestion that any of its staff were involved in the unauthorised event in the Belgian capital.

The Independent understands that social-distancing protocols do not appear to have been followed at the orgy.