EU BREXIT spokesman Guy Verhofstadt has said that a European empire is the only way to defend Britain’s “way of life” in the 21st century.

Speaking at the Liberal Democrat conference, the flamboyant euro-federalist said: “The world of tomorrow is a world of empires, in which we Europeans and you British can only defend your interests, your way of life by doing it together in a European framework and a European Union.”

He went on: “The world order of tomorrow is not a world order based on nation states or countries, it’s a world order that is based on empires. China is not a nation, it’s a civilisation.

“India is not a nation. There are two thousand nations in India, there are twenty different languages that are used there, there are four big religions at the same time. It is the biggest democracy worldwide.” 

These comments follow on from growing concerns that the EU intends to create its own armed forces.

In April Mr Verhofstadt tweeted: “For 70 years, Nato has been a cornerstone of our security. Now it is vital we strengthen @Nato by building its European pillar, based on a European defence community and a European Army, so that Europeans can take their future into their own hands.”