Britain is AIRBRUSHED out of EU maps already, two years before we formally leave the bloc

  • Official European Commission maps have painted out the UK
  • Tory MP Jacob Rees Mogg said he is 'delighted' Brussels has finally woken up to the fact Britain is leaving the bloc
  • It comes two years before the UK formally leaves the EU in March 2019 

By KATE FERGUSON, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

The EU has started airbrushing the UK out of maps of the European Union – two years before we formally leave.

The move was hailed by Brexiteer Jacob Rees Mogg – who said he was delighted Brussels had finally realised Brexit is actually happening.

The maps, produced by the European Commission, shows employment rates across the bloc, but has faded the UK out to grey.

The European Commission map has airbrushed the UK out depite Britain not leaving the  bloc until March 2019

The European Commission map has airbrushed the UK out depite Britain not leaving the  bloc until March 2019

Brexit-backing Tory MP Jacob Rees Mogg said he was delighted at the maps

Brexit-backing Tory MP Jacob Rees Mogg said he was delighted at the maps

Mr Rees-Mogg, Conservative MP for North East Somerset, told the Mail Online Brussels should give Britain some of its money back as it clearly thinks Brexit has already happeed.

He said: ‘I think they are brilliant, I am absolutely delighted that officials in the European Union have recognised that we are leaving and are speeding the process along.

‘But perhaps they would like to give us a discount on our bills if they have decided we have left already.

‘I thought we would win the Brexit vote, but if you had asked me just before the 2015 election if I thought the EU would be painting us out of its maps I would have been astonished.

Mr Rees-Mogg, pictured last April, said Brussels should hand Britain back some of its cash as it thinks Britain has already departed from the bloc

Mr Rees-Mogg, pictured last April, said Brussels should hand Britain back some of its cash as it thinks Britain has already departed from the bloc

‘I think it is good news they are recognising reality rather than trying to keep us in.

‘But of course as we leave their figures get worse, because our economy is strong and we flatter the EU statistics.

‘Their statistics will take a bit of a tumble with us airbrushed out.’

Theresa May triggered Article 50 in March starting the two-year clock on Britain leaving the EU.

This means that Britain will not formally leave the EU until March 2019.

BrexitEuropean UnionMaps

Most watched News videos