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- Mar 31, 2009
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'Anti-British' Obama Attacked Over BP
In the astonishing letter - seen by Sky News - John Napier, chairman of insurance company RSA, said Mr Obama should act in a "more Statesman like way".
Mr Napier appeared in an exclusive interview on Jeff Randall Live this evening and explained why he had written to the president.
He said: "I've just put on record my concerns about the tone that has developed, particularly about the personalisational issues, which is alien to us in our culture.
"And the fact it's being received over here as an anti-British rhetoric - that may not be his intent, but that is how it's reading."
In the letter Mr Napier bluntly questions Mr Obama's ability to take "the heat when under pressure".
It follows the president's scathing attacks on BP and particularly its chief executive Tony Hayward in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil rig disaster.
Earlier this week Mr Obama said he wanted to know "whose ass to kick" over the massive spill and levelled yet more criticism at BP's handling of the leak.
Shares in the company have taken a battering since the comments. They have fallen nearly 45% or by £54.5bn since the explosion.
Mr Napier's no-holds barred letter to Mr Obama wastes no time in attacking the president over his handling of the case.
He writes: "Please forgive this open letter but your comments towards BP and its CEO as reported here are coming across as somewhat prejudicial and personal.
"There is no doubt that BP, as a UK PLC, is totally committed to do everything possible to contain the oil leak and meet all its obligations in the USA."
He goes on: "There is a sense here that these attacks are being made because BP is British.
"If you compare the damage inflicted on the economies of the western world by polluted securities from the irresponsible, unchecked greed and avarice of leading USA international banks, there has not been the same personalised response in or from countries beyond the US.
"Perhaps a case of double standards?"
He continues: "The immediate issues are very challenging but are best solved working together in a more Statesman like way."
He ends the letter: "We can all agree that the first and absolute priority is to stem the leak.
"Perhaps the second one is to ensure the reputation of the Presidency outside the USA is seen as objective, balanced, able and capable of taking the heat when under pressure.
"We liked the Obama we saw at your election, can we have more of it please."
London Mayor Boris Johnson joined the backlash against the US administration, hitting out at "anti-British rhetoric" and "buck-passing".
He added that there had been "attempts to damage the reputation of a great British company".
The US has insisted the BP row will not affect Anglo-American relations.
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said: "This is not about the relationship between the United States and its closest ally."
Prime Minister David Cameron will discuss the fall-out of the oil spill during a phone call with Mr Obama over the weekend.
Chancellor George Osborne said he had spoken to Mr Hayward earlier today.
He said while the Government shared Mr Obama's concerns over the spill, it recognised BP's contribution to Britain and urged "constructive solutions".
In the astonishing letter - seen by Sky News - John Napier, chairman of insurance company RSA, said Mr Obama should act in a "more Statesman like way".
Mr Napier appeared in an exclusive interview on Jeff Randall Live this evening and explained why he had written to the president.
He said: "I've just put on record my concerns about the tone that has developed, particularly about the personalisational issues, which is alien to us in our culture.
"And the fact it's being received over here as an anti-British rhetoric - that may not be his intent, but that is how it's reading."
In the letter Mr Napier bluntly questions Mr Obama's ability to take "the heat when under pressure".
It follows the president's scathing attacks on BP and particularly its chief executive Tony Hayward in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil rig disaster.
Earlier this week Mr Obama said he wanted to know "whose ass to kick" over the massive spill and levelled yet more criticism at BP's handling of the leak.
Shares in the company have taken a battering since the comments. They have fallen nearly 45% or by £54.5bn since the explosion.
Mr Napier's no-holds barred letter to Mr Obama wastes no time in attacking the president over his handling of the case.
He writes: "Please forgive this open letter but your comments towards BP and its CEO as reported here are coming across as somewhat prejudicial and personal.
"There is no doubt that BP, as a UK PLC, is totally committed to do everything possible to contain the oil leak and meet all its obligations in the USA."
He goes on: "There is a sense here that these attacks are being made because BP is British.
"If you compare the damage inflicted on the economies of the western world by polluted securities from the irresponsible, unchecked greed and avarice of leading USA international banks, there has not been the same personalised response in or from countries beyond the US.
"Perhaps a case of double standards?"
He continues: "The immediate issues are very challenging but are best solved working together in a more Statesman like way."
He ends the letter: "We can all agree that the first and absolute priority is to stem the leak.
"Perhaps the second one is to ensure the reputation of the Presidency outside the USA is seen as objective, balanced, able and capable of taking the heat when under pressure.
"We liked the Obama we saw at your election, can we have more of it please."
London Mayor Boris Johnson joined the backlash against the US administration, hitting out at "anti-British rhetoric" and "buck-passing".
He added that there had been "attempts to damage the reputation of a great British company".
The US has insisted the BP row will not affect Anglo-American relations.
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said: "This is not about the relationship between the United States and its closest ally."
Prime Minister David Cameron will discuss the fall-out of the oil spill during a phone call with Mr Obama over the weekend.
Chancellor George Osborne said he had spoken to Mr Hayward earlier today.
He said while the Government shared Mr Obama's concerns over the spill, it recognised BP's contribution to Britain and urged "constructive solutions".
