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Thursday 14 July 2016 9:51 am

In quotes: Boris Johnson’s foreign insults and gaffes

By: Lynsey Barber

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Oh Boris. The lovable rogue was an recognisable mascot for London, but taking on an official statesman role as foreign secretary? You'd be forgiven for having doubts about his diplomatic skills…

On China…

"Chinese cultural influence is virtually nil, and unlikely to increase…"

On Hilary Clinton…

"She's got dyed blonde hair and pouty lips, and a steely blue stare, like a sadistic nurse in a mental hospital."

On Donald Trump…

'The only reason I wouldn't visit some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump."

Read more: Safe pair of hands: The pound's jumped more than a cent against the dollar

On Barack Obama…

"No one was sure whether the President had himself been involved in the decision. Some said it was a snub to Britain. Some said it was a symbol of the part-Kenyan President's ancestral dislike of the British Empire — of which Churchill had been such a fervent defender."

On George W Bush…

"A cross-eyed Texan warmonger."

On the President of Turkey…

“A terrific wankerer”

On Papua New Guinea…

“For 10 years we in the Tory Party have become used to Papua New Guinea-style orgies of cannibalism and chief-killing.”

On Arnie…

"My speaking style was criticised by no less an authority than Arnold Schwarzenegger. It was a low moment, my friends, to have my rhetorical skills denounced by a monosyllabic Austrian cyborg."

Read more: Theresa May's cabinet reshuffle: Everything you need to know

On the Commonwealth…

"It is said that the Queen has come to love the Commonwealth, partly because it supplies her with regular cheering crowds of flag-waving piccaninnies"

On blurting out stupid things…

"If we judged everybody by the stupid, unguarded things they blurt out to their nearest and dearest, then we wouldn't ever get anywhere."

On disasters…

"My friends, as I have discovered myself, there are no disasters, only opportunities. And, indeed, opportunities for fresh disasters."

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