The journalist issued the brutal message on Twitter over the weekend. It comes as the UK is coming close to the end of the Brexit transition period with little hope of a deal.
Mr Neil took to Twitter on Sunday to express his thoughts on France’s decision to close its borders to the UK amid the news of a new strain of the coronavirus spreading in Britain.
He wrote: “If, like the British Government, you big up a new strain of Covid to place London and the South into a newly-devised tougher Tier 4 then you can hardly blame the French for saying Zoot Alors! Let’s close the border for 48 hours till we work out what it all means.”
France joined Ireland and other European countries at the weekend in imposing travel restrictions on the UK.
One Twitter user replied to Mr Neil and wrote: “Let’s hope the gammon idiots who voted leave understand that it’s their slavish following of the Farage dog whistle that got us here in the first place.
“I’m not sure they will.”
The BBC journalist confronted the Twitter user with what appeared to be a sarcastic reply.
Mr Neil replied: “Well said, Sam. A stellar lesson in how to make friends and influence people.”
It comes as Downing Street rejected calls to extend the Brexit transition period amid the new coronavirus strain and France’s freight ban.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson ruled out the possibility of an extension to the transition period.
READ MORE: London Police prepare for NYE lockdown protest and Brexit rally CHAOS
“And, it remains the case that WTO terms [no-deal] would be more than satisfactory for the UK.”
The Prime Minister also claimed the UK can “cope with any difficulties that are thrown” its way.
He said: “Prosper mightily remains an extremely good description of life after 1 January either way.”
On Sunday, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier met with his UK counterpart Lord Frost in Brussels.
The pair failed to reach a breakthrough and a UK source told Sky News the situation was “difficult” with differences remaining on key topics including fishing.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon claimed the new mutation spreading in Britain “demands our 100% attention”.
Taking to Twitter, she wrote: “It’s now imperative that PM seeks an agreement to extend the Brexit transition period.
“The new Covid strain – & the various implications of it – means we face a profoundly serious situation, & it demands our 100% attention.
“It would be unconscionable to compound it with Brexit.”
