Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
PROMINENT BREXITEER BORIS JOHNSON has launched his campaign bid to become the leader of the Tory party and the next British Prime Minister.
Attorney General Geoffrey Cox opened the launch of Johnson’s campaign, a surprise new backer to Johnson’s 70-plus strong list of supporters.
In his speech, he spoke about representing “every region” by improving transport and broadband, praised the British economy, saying that they were reaching “Grand-Prix speeds but without firing on all cylinders” – and said he didn’t want a no-deal Brexit.
At the beginning of his speech, he told the packed room of media and supporters that the British economy was almost “neck-and-neck with Germany’s”.
He said he would advocate for a “sensible orderly Brexit that allows us to build a new partnership with our friends across the channel.
That’s one of the many failings so far – we haven’t made enough about a new sense of Europeanism, and a sense of Conservative Europeanism.
“We can still have a fantastic, intense relationship” with EU countries, he said, while also buoying a sense of English pride:
English football teams have won the Champions League and the [Europa League] … by beating other English football teams.
He also said that he believed in “synergy” between free markets and public services, adding that he would “stick up for every business in this country”.
He also said that although he wouldn’t delay Brexit past October and that he wouldn’t rule out a no-deal Brexit – that he didn’t want to leave the EU without a deal.
“Parties have entered a yellow-box junction where they cannot move forward or back.
“After three years, and two missed deadlines, we must leave the EU on October 31st,” he said, sparking applause from the audience.
“I don’t think we will end up with any such thing,” adding that it was “astonishing” that British negotiators had ruled it out up to now.
They don’t want a no-deal any more than I do.
“Delay means defeat, delay means Corbyn,” he added. “Kick the can – and we kick the bucket!”
When asked if he was inconsistent on whether he wanted a no-deal Brexit or not, Johnson answered:
“If we make the preparations now, that we are able to make that exit, if we have to which of course would be a last resort. The best way to avoid it is to prepare for it.”
The British people for so many years have been told that they are incapable, but they will rise to it.
When Johnson was asked whether he regretted some of his more controversial views – his comparison of Muslim women to post-boxes was specifically mentioned – Johnson said he would continue to speak as he has, even if “plaster comes off the roof”.
“To those who seem to caricature my views… it’s vital that we remember that one of the reasons why the public [feel distant from politicians] is they feel we are muffling and veiling our language, and covering everything up in bureaucratic platitudes.
“If I use phrases and language that cause offence, I’m sorry for causing offence but I will continue to speak as directly I can.”
Johnson was also asked whether he had taken cocaine before, but didn’t answered the question, and talked about what the public wants from the Tory party instead.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I hope the UK get boris it is what they deserve. It will be the people of the UK that suffer the most and these are the leaders they elected.
@john s: A divisive buffoon in Washington and a divisive buffoon in London. Seems like character and ethics have been removed from the prerequisite list on the job application.
@Tommy C: no, no, character and ethics are still being looked at… just not the same way. if you have either you are not right for the job ;-)
English teams won the Europa and Champions leagues with a lot of help from some Belgians.
@Andrew: wouldn’t it be more accurate for him to say ‘English based teams’.
Boris won’t be able to kick the bucket or can down the road because he will be busy trying to take both feet out of his mouth.
@KJmadra.: does not matter who wins the Conservative poison chalice, when the UK leaves the EU it’s all downhill for them from there unfortunately with a huge knock on effect in Ireland with the border with the potential to take us back to the old days there. Not good all around really.
The electorate deserves everything they vote for and Boris and Trump are the most dangerous combination ever to be in power at the same time
Boris is a way more intelligent and machiavellian that he portrays. He plays the buffon character as it works with the conservative electorate while underneath it he is a sharp mined schemer.
The most dangerous thing about Boris is all he is interested in is Boris , he is only on the Brexit platform because its suited him politically, he originally wrote a pro remain article in the telegraph in 2016 where he said continued membership of the EU would be a “boon for the world and for Europe”. A week later he changed his mind and published a hard brexit column. I think if he become PM he wont be able to back up the statements he has made and will end up doing Theresa Mays deal with the EU and will quickly to from the golden haired boy to a hate figure the the entrenched hard brexit ideologues
Hes not going to gave a good relationship with Europe if he reneged on the 30 billion or so that Britain owes, which he has said he will do
IMO the Conservatives will buckle by September and opt for a second referendum
@Moorooka Mick: it’s the only escape from disaster
I really hope Boris wins too. F@@k it sure it’ll be gas!
@andyearley: Irish people – They have a strong view on other countries politicians and policies but ZERO on their own half hazard politicians
@Whoswho: not quite true, my view on Varadcar and his cowboy government would not pass the obscenity filter here.
That slogan is ripe for a Substitute S instead of B on the first line.
Sack
Boris
this would be the germany wihich hasn’t slipped behind India and France on GDP yet.
@ed w: or the Germany that experienced 1.5% growth in 2018 and has projected growth of only 0.5% for 2019 and is teetering on the brink of recession.
They deserve him…… unfortunately the rest of us don’t.
Politicians will say anything, do anything to get a promotion and can end up doing anything in power… People get what they vote for?
Maybe an English team won the Europa League, but a Scouse one won the Champions League. Now do one Johnson, we’re Scouse not English and don’t be using us to big yourself and the country up when you couldn’t care less about us.
Oh I hope that they get the Eton class clown for a leader, Dobbo handed him his ass at the convention center earlier this year, the UK will really rue what they wished for with this clown at the helm!!
Borris the soundbite king. Suppose he has to dumb things down for his supporters.
have your say