Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

‘David Cameron is stupid and inefficient’: Argentinian ambassador to UK launches shocking attack on Prime Minister over Pope’s stance on Falkands

Alicia Castro made the controversial comments during a speech to the Argentine senate

John Hall
Wednesday 21 August 2013 11:45 EDT
Comments
Alicia Castro has launched a shocking attack on David Cameron
Alicia Castro has launched a shocking attack on David Cameron

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Argentina’s ambassador to the UK has launched a shocking attack on David Cameron, branding the Prime Minister “stupid and inefficient’ for criticising the Pope’s stance on the Falkland Islands.

Alicia Castro made her controversial comments during a speech to the Argentine senate. She was immediately asked by fellow politicians if she felt it appropriate to refer to Mr Cameron as “stupid” in parliament, but Ms Castro refused to go back on her words and later described Cameron as “foolish”.

British MPs today called on the senior diplomat to apologise for her remarks, with the Conservative MP for Esher and Walton Dominic Raab calling it at a “crass outburst”, before calling for her to say sorry “if she wants anyone in Britain to listen to her about anything ever again”.

Number 10 immediately dismissed Castro’s comments, referring to a referendum in spring this year as proof the islands should remain Britain.

A Downing Street source told the Evening Standard: “We don’t think it’s foolish to listen to 99.8 per cent of the [Falklands] population who have made it very clear that they want to stay British.”

Using the Spanish word Malvinas to refer to the Falklands, Castro said: “Cameron was so stupid and inefficient when Pope Francis was chosen as the new papal leader because he broadcast what people had been saying about the Malvinas.”

In March, Cameron criticised the Pope’s stance on the Falklands, saying he “respectfully” disagreed with the view that Britain had “usurped” the islands – something the Pope suggested while still a Buenos Aires cardinal last year.

Making reference to the aforementioned referendum, and the way the Catholic Church formally elects a new pontiff, Cameron joked: “The white smoke over the Falklands was pretty clear”.

At the time, Castro was furious with Cameron for voicing opposition to Francis I’s comments, saying “it is striking that he should dare to rebuff the Pope”.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in