Leave.EU compares Emmanuel Macron's victory to French World War II 'surrender'

Centrist's election win will mark the death of France, pro-Brexit campaign group claims

Nigel Farage had earlier suggested that Emmanuel Macron will be the EU's 'puppet' (Rex)

The Leave.EU Twitter account has responded to Emmanuel Macron’s victory in the French presidential election with a series of controversial tweets.

As projections suggested the centrist had comfortably defeated far-right Marine Le Pen, the campaign group, backed by Ukip funder Arron Banks and former leader Nigel Farage, tweeted: “RIP France."

It later posted a picture of a Second World War-era front page reading “France Surrenders” along with a caption reading: “The French rolled over in 1940. This time they’ve saved Germany the fuel and bullets.”

The post was a reference to Mr Macron’s pro-European Union policies and vow to work closely alongside Germany and other EU member states in the interests of European co-operation and integration.

Other social media users responded angrily to the messages.

“The Germans aren’t the fascists now. You are,” wrote one.

“The party you are supporting was founded by the remnants of the regime that collaborated with the German occupation,” said another.

Later in the evening, a third tweet was posted on the Leave.EU page saying: “Macron walks out in Paris to EU anthem. Says it all – more integration, more devastation.”

The account had earlier posted a video of Mr Farage describing Ms Le Pen as “the real deal”.

Speaking to ITV’s Peston on Sunday, the former Ukip leader said: “She’s a proper, genuine Eurosceptic and under her the French National Front is not about race but it is about sovereignty.

“Do I think Marine Le Pen herself is an extremist? No I don’t, I absolutely don’t … Not only would she be better for France than Macron, but better for Brexit Britain.

“I do believe Marine Le Pen will become the French president. However, I suspect it’s more likely that will happen in 2022 than today.”

Mr Macron comfortably defeat Ms Le Pen with anoit 65 per cent of votes compared to the Front National leader’s 35 per cent, after 45 million out of 47 million ballots were counted.

Leave.EU, which was funded by Mr Banks and included a number of senior Ukip figures, was one of the two main pro-Brexit campaigns in the run-up to last year’s EU referendum.

Last month the Electoral Commission announced it was investigating alleged spending irregularities relating to the group.

Mr Banks said the group would be “vigorously defending” itself over the allegations.