EU efforts to ban the English language from Brussels are indicative of deep-seated anti-Anglo prejudice, and underline precisely why the UK needed to quit the bloc in the first place, a think tank boss has said.

Bow Group chairman Ben Harris-Quinney was speaking after two French MEPs – Dominique Bilde and France Jamet, both of whom represent the right-wing National Rally party – launched scathing attacks on the use of English throughout the machinery of EU governance despite Brexit. Clement Beaune, France’s EU affairs minister, also indicated his aversion the use of English, proclaiming recently: “Let’s get used to speaking our languages again!”

Mr Harris-Quinney was unsurprised – but also unimpressed.

He told Express.co.uk: “The use of English in Europe, and indeed throughout the world, has not in modern times been to benefit the British but to utilise a common language that most parties could understand.

“It is no different for the EU. I worked in the European Parliament and would often observe for example Dutch officials speaking to Swedish officials in English, with no native English speaker present.”

Mr Harris-Quinney suggested France had an ulterior motive when it came to the use of English.

He explained: “Macron and the French are seizing on Brexit and Merkel’s departure as an opportunity to become the pre-eminent European power, and pushing for French to be the new language of Europe is a clear signal of that.

“Even at the European Parliament most officials do not speak French to a strong proficiency, but most do speak English, and this is even more true for the European citizenry.