An Italian restaurateur in Aberdeen yesterday welcomed the UK voting to leave the European Union and says he hopes his homeland follows suit.
Nino Lepre, owner of the Ciao Napoli on the city’s Bon Accord Crescent, compared the institution to “the Third Reich” and said it has damaged Italian industry.
The Neapolitan has lived in the Granite City for more than 20 years and said he is happy the UK took the “great opportunity” to leave the EU, and welcomed the implications for small business.
He added he had “no fear” of European nationals having to leave the UK following the result.
He said: “As an Italian I have to say well done UK in getting out of the EU and for the people voting for freedom and democracy, I hope Italy goes the same way.
“(The EU) has done so much damage to Italy over the years, it completely destroyed our olive oil industry with their rules.
“At the end of the day, if the UK leaves then it will always have trading partners in Europe. I can’t see why the Italian government would turn away someone wanting to trade with them or the UK government.
“Lots of Italians are very happy to be living in the UK and giving a lot back, I don’t think the UK government would be stupid enough to get rid of us.
“I think that the money should be raised and spent in the local community, not being set by people miles and miles away.
“It will be good for small businesses.”
Speaking on the potential of a future Scottish independence referendum, Mr Lepre said he “could not see the logic”.
He said: “Scotland has a fantastic fishing industry that has been destroyed by the EU and now I hear people saying how great the EU is.
“I don’t know why so many people think that they can’t take the idea of being controlled from London, which has been part of the same country for hundreds of years, but think that decisions being made in Belgium is better.”
