European Commission President calls Farage and Johnson unpatriotic quitters

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has accused Brexit supporters Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson of being unpatriotic quitters, after the two stepped down from leadership positions following the UK's vote to leave the European Union.

Juncker attacked the two politicians saying, "The Brexit heroes of yesterday are now the sad heroes of today," reports The Guardian.

Juncker at the European parliament in Strasbourg said "Those who have contributed to the situation in the UK have resigned - Johnson, Farage and others. They are as it were retro-nationalists, they are not patriots. Patriots don't resign when things get difficult; they stay."

Prime Minister David Cameron created a vacancy by resigning from the office post the EU referendum, despite a previous promise not to stand down. Ex London Mayor Boris Johnson was being widely speculated to succeed Prime Minister Cameron but he pulled out of the Tory leadership race after his friend and fellow leave campaigner Michael Gove announced he would stand against him.

Gove declared that Johnson was unable to provide "the leadership or build the team for the task ahead".

Farage then announced on Monday he was standing down as Ukip leader, because he "wanted his life back".

However, he will keep his seat in the European parliament and remain co-chair of its Eurosceptic faction, the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group, till negotiation for Brexit are complete.

Meanwhile senior Liberal MEP Guy Verhofstadt, a former Prime Minister of Belgium, also slammed Farage and Johnson.

"Brexiteers remind me of rats leaving the sinking ship. What are you waiting for - the next referendum in France, in Italy maybe," said Verhofstadt.

Juncker also repeated his criticism of British politicians who campaigned to leave the EU for not having a plan. The UK has yet to launch the article 50 procedure that starts its formal divorce from the EU.

"Instead of developing a plan they are leaving the boat," Juncker said.