Malta has severed diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom, following a remark by British prime minister Boris Johnson that mentioned the country’s high obesity rate.
Johnson sparked outrage after referring to the fact that the only European country with a higher obesity rate than the UK was Malta.
Following Johnson’s comments, British High Commissioner Robert Gill was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Valletta earlier this afternoon, where he was informed that he and his staff would be expelled from the country, and that Malta no longer recognised its former colonial master as an ally.
“Boris Johnson’s comments were an insult to the slim, toned and chiselled bodies of all Maltese people, and could not go unpunished,” a ministry spokesperson told journalists.
“First it was the bendy buses, now this. Well, let’s see how Johnson fares without mighty Malta by his side,” she continued.
The spokesperson did not rule out further action against the UK.
“We reserve the right to carry out the worst retaliation possible: ban Maltese people from shopping at Primark.”
The decision follows a protest that was held in front of the High Commission building in Ta’ Xbiex this morning, where hundreds of Maltese gathered to hurl abuse at Johnson and set fire to the Union Jack.
“How dare Boris call Maltese people fat? Has he looked at himself in the mirror lately?” one protester said, before polishing off a bag of five pastizzi and washing them down with a bottle of Coke.
“These so-called studies say that Maltese children are obese, but my 9-year-old daughter only weights 80 kilos,” added another.
“Brexit. I don’t know what that has to do with obesity. But Brexit,” said another.
The protest ended when one of the demonstrators suggested storming the building.
“Luckily they all ran out of breath as they were trying to break down the front door, so we didn’t have to intervene. Which is just as well, because intervening takes a lot of effort and it’s really hot today,” a police officer on the scene said.
