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Boris Johnson on Brexit: 'We can be like Canada' Boris Johnson on Brexit: 'We can be like Canada'
(35 minutes later)
Boris Johnson has claimed Britain could follow the model of Canada as he called on people to “ignore the pessimists and the merchants of doom” who do not have the guts to think the UK could survive on its own outside the EU.Boris Johnson has claimed Britain could follow the model of Canada as he called on people to “ignore the pessimists and the merchants of doom” who do not have the guts to think the UK could survive on its own outside the EU.
The London mayor said Canada was a good example of a country that has free trade deals with the rest of the world while maintaining control of its borders. “I think we can strike a deal as the Canadians have done based on trade and getting rid of tariffs. It’s a very, very bright future I see,” he said.The London mayor said Canada was a good example of a country that has free trade deals with the rest of the world while maintaining control of its borders. “I think we can strike a deal as the Canadians have done based on trade and getting rid of tariffs. It’s a very, very bright future I see,” he said.
Johnson named the North American country after David Cameron made several speeches dismissing the idea that the UK could be like Norway or Switzerland, which are outside the EU but have to pay in and accept free movement.Johnson named the North American country after David Cameron made several speeches dismissing the idea that the UK could be like Norway or Switzerland, which are outside the EU but have to pay in and accept free movement.
In typically colourful language, he said the British must “hold our nerve and not be cowed by the gloomadon poppers” who think the UK would not do well on its own.In typically colourful language, he said the British must “hold our nerve and not be cowed by the gloomadon poppers” who think the UK would not do well on its own.
Despite having said only a few weeks ago that the arguments for and against the EU were on a knife-edge, he claimed there were “no substantial downsides” to leaving the EU. Despite having said only a few weeks ago that the arguments for and against the EU were on a knife-edge, he claimed there were “no substantial down sides” to leaving the EU. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. I think there is a huge opportunity. Do free trade deals, believe in ourselves,” he said.
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. I think there is a huge opportunity. Do free trade deals, believe in ourselves,” he said. Johnson made the remarks during a speech at a Europa warehouse in Dartford, Kent, where he drove a HGV branded with the Vote Leave campaign, and posed for selfies with staff.
Johnson made the remarks during a speech at a Europa warehouse in Dartford where he drove a HGV branded with the Vote Leave campaign, and posed for selfies with staff. Expanding on his vision for a UK outside the EU, Johnson said the Canada model was “the way forward for us”.
More details soon... “What I think we should do is strike a new free trade deal along the lines of what Canada has just achieved. They have taken out the vast majority of the tariffs and have virtually unencumbered trade. We want a relationship based on trade and cooperation. The idea of being subject to the single judicial system is the problem.”
He also claimed sterling would flourish if Britain left the EU and criticised the pro-EU voices who once wanted to join the euro, saying they were “wrong then, wrong now”.
A Vote Leave source said Canada was not the only model but pointed to the deal sweeping away 97% of trade tariffs with the EU. However, it took five years of negotiations until 2014 and and still has not come into effect two years later.
Johnson himself acknowledged in a Telegraph column last month that new trade deals could take years of negotiation and divert energy away from more pressing domestic problems.
The debate over the EU has been dominated in recent days by a row over whether the Queen expressed Eurosceptic views at a lunch in 2011, leading the Sun to claim she backed Brexit.
Amid speculation that fellow out campaigner Michael Gove was the source of the leak, Johnson refused to be drawn on the Queen’s position.
He said: “On Her Majesty, the most important thing is she is absolutely above politics and should have nothing to do with it. She shouldn’t be dragged in and I certainly don’t know what her views are.”