US president Barack Obama visiting the spill.

BP oil spill

BP oil spill

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has threatened to turn into a geopolitical spat, with British politicians increasingly irritated by President Obama’s tough rhetoric.

The US president, under pressure from domestic critics about his handling of the crisis, has resorted to berating BP in ever more vigorous tones.

He has also started calling it ‘British Petroleum’, a name which fell out of use long ago.

Speaking to the Today programme, London mayor Boris Johnson said: “I do think there’s something slightly worrying about the anti-British rhetoric that seems to be permeating from America.”