by BLOOMBERG
LONDON • Boris Johnson (picture) kicked off Theresa May’s “Road Map to Brexit” with an appeal to supporters of European Union (EU) membership to embrace the UK’s future outside the bloc. But his speech was far more than that as well.
Apart from the to-be-expected jokes, he weighed in seriously about where he stands on divergence from EU regulations. He made the case that the UK must be able to choose which rules to keep.
He also stood by Prime Minister May in a qualified fashion, and on the second referendum? “Let’s not go there,” he said.
The foreign secretary, a divisive figure who toured the country in a red bus during the 2016 referendum calling for payments to the EU to be redirected to the National Health Service, spoke in London.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had some strong words when asked about Johnson’s comments.
“Some in the British political society are against the truth, pretending that I’m a stupid, stubborn federalist, that I’m in favour of the European superstate,” Juncker told reporters in Brussels yesterday. “I’m strictly against a European superstate.”
“We aren’t the United States of America, we are the EU, which is a rich body because we have these 27, 28 nations,” Juncker said. “The EU can’t be built against European nations, so this is total nonsense.”
“We’re all very lucky to serve,” Johnson says when asked if he guarantees he won’t resign from Cabinet this year.
Is May the cure for the “dreadful disease” of “Brexcosis”, a reporter asked? “Yes,” said Johnson. “The cure for Brexcosis is exactly the one you described.”
“When it comes to EU standards for washing machines or vacuum cleaners or hairdryers or whatever, it may very well make sense for us to be in alignment,” Johnson said. “But I don’t think that we should necessarily commit forever and a day to remaining in congruence.”
Johnson restates his argument that the UK must be able to choose. Negotiations “are going well, by the way”, he said.
“Things will remain as they are” during the post-Brexit implementation period, he said.
That’s a key point because it goes to the heart of the rift between Cabinet ministers in May’s government as well as the broader debate on EU membership.
“If there were to be a second vote I really think it would be another year of turmoil and wrangling and feuding…So, let’s not go there,” Johnson said.
That’s because more people have been pushing the argument for a vote on the deal that emerges from talks with the EU as economic forecasts paint a dismal picture of post-Brexit life.
Entitled “A United Kingdom”, Johnson’s staff described the speech as an attempt to bring the nation together and as an overture to the country’s so-called Remainers. Early signs are that accusing them of trying to “frustrate the will of the people” won’t get the job done. — Bloomberg
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