EU chief slams pro-Union video over ‘fake quote’
A pro-Unionist video posted on Twitter has been criticised for an alleged misquote.
The video posted by the NI in Union account includes a quote that Northern Ireland is “the price to pay for Brexit”.
The quote was attributed in the video to Martin Selmayr, secretary-general of the EU Commission.
Stand up for Northern Ireland – Reject the Backstop
Use your Unionist vote TOMORROW! 🗳️ pic.twitter.com/Rgo0FbLAQD
— NI in Union (@NI_Union) May 22, 2019
However, Margaritis Schinas, chief spokesman for the European Commission, said the quote was “fake”.
He went on to blast the video as “fraudulent and pure disinformation that has been spread maliciously”.
The sentence attributed to the @EU_Commission Secretary General at 1:16 of this video is fake, fraudulent and pure disinformation that has been spread maliciously. https://t.co/3mR2KuipVR
— Margaritis Schinas (@MargSchinas) May 23, 2019
The NI in Union Twitter account has been approached for a response.
The account has no name attached to it, and simply describes itself as “promoting the positive benefits of NI’s membership of the UK”.