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Boris Johnson: UK outside the EU will play greater role in Europe Boris Johnson: UK outside the EU will play greater role in Europe
(35 minutes later)
An emollient Boris Johnson, condemned as a liar by the French foreign minister, has launched a hurried charm offensive in his first full day as foreign secretary – going to the French embassy’s Bastille Day celebrations in London to promise that the UK outside the European Union would play an even greater role in Europe.An emollient Boris Johnson, condemned as a liar by the French foreign minister, has launched a hurried charm offensive in his first full day as foreign secretary – going to the French embassy’s Bastille Day celebrations in London to promise that the UK outside the European Union would play an even greater role in Europe.
Johnson, the single riskiest appointment in Theresa May’s reshuffle, admitted that the Brexit vote had led to “a certain amount of plaster coming off the ceiling of the chancelleries of Europe since it was not the result they were expecting”. Related: The Boris Johnson question: how the UK's foreign secretary is viewed abroad
But he claimed he had already received a charming private letter from his French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault, looking forward to deep Anglo-French cooperation. Johnson, the single riskiest appointment in Theresa May’s reshuffle, admitted that the Brexit vote would lead to “a certain amount of plaster coming off the ceiling of the chancelleries of Europe since it was not the result they were expecting and clearly they are making their views known in a free and frank way”.
But he claimed he had already received a charming private letter from his French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault, looking forward to deep Anglo-French co-operation.
In public, however, Ayrault said Johnson had told a lot of lies during the referendum campaign, while the German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, accused Johnson of outrageous irresponsibility by “luring the country into Brexit” and then going off to play cricket.In public, however, Ayrault said Johnson had told a lot of lies during the referendum campaign, while the German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, accused Johnson of outrageous irresponsibility by “luring the country into Brexit” and then going off to play cricket.
Johnson also addressed nearly 800 Foreign Office staff with a morale-boosting speech on Thursday, arguing that the UK’s world role was now more important than ever. Johnson also addressed nearly 800 Foreign Office staff with a speech aimed at boosting morale, arguing that the UK’s world role was now more important than ever.
Senior mandarins remain dumbfounded by his appointment, pointing to his long record of undiplomatic remarks about a series of vital UK allies ranging from Turkey to the US and Europe. Senior mandarins remain dumbfounded by his appointment, pointing to his long record of undiplomatic remarks about vital UK allies ranging from Turkey to the US and Europe.
The UK in the coming Brexit talks is not in an obviously strong bargaining position, and European leaders deeply resent the way in which Johnson and his allies not just won the referendum, but denigrated the whole European project – at one point likening it to the grandiosity of Hitler’s dictatorship. In the coming Brexit talks, the UK is not in an obviously strong bargaining position, and European leaders deeply resent the way in which Johnson and his allies not just won the referendum, but denigrated the whole European project – at one point likening it to the grandiosity of Hitler’s dictatorship.
In a business that is based on trust and mutual respect, Johnson is starting with a handicap that will require all his longstanding charm, and some newly found self-discipline, to overcome.In a business that is based on trust and mutual respect, Johnson is starting with a handicap that will require all his longstanding charm, and some newly found self-discipline, to overcome.
Johnson also spoke to the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and the two men agreed that Brexit should occur in an orderly way. Kerry, who is due in London this week to discuss Syria and the Middle East, told Johnson he wanted to see “more Britain abroad, a greater global profile”. Johnson spoke to the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and the two men agreed that Brexit should occur in an orderly way. Kerry, who is due in London this week to discuss Syria and the Middle East, told Johnson he wanted to see “more Britain abroad, a greater global profile”.
It remains unclear what the relationship will be between the Foreign Office and the new Department for Brexit, to be run by David Davis, and the new Department for International Trade, run by Liam Fox. All three men are Brexiters, but have sizable egos that will require strong guidance from the prime minister to ensure a coherent negotiating strategy by the end of the year.It remains unclear what the relationship will be between the Foreign Office and the new Department for Brexit, to be run by David Davis, and the new Department for International Trade, run by Liam Fox. All three men are Brexiters, but have sizable egos that will require strong guidance from the prime minister to ensure a coherent negotiating strategy by the end of the year.
Davis has claimed that Brexit can be accomplished by December 2018 and new trade deals as large as with the EU single market secured within two years. The three men are likely to clash on the degree to which the UK needs access to the EU single market, and the price the UK is willing to pay to achieve that. Davis has claimed that Brexit can be accomplished by December 2018 and new trade deals as large as with the EU single market secured within two years. The three men are likely to clash on the degree to which the UK needs access to the EU single market and the price the UK is willing to pay to achieve that.
Insisting the UK had a bright future outside the EU, Johnson said: “There’s a massive difference between leaving the EU and our relations with Europe, which if anything I think are going to be intensified,” adding: “After the referendum vote of June 23 it is inevitable that a certain amount of plaster will be coming off the ceiling of the chancelleries of Europe since it was not the result they were expecting, and clearly they are making their views known in a free and frank way.” Insisting the UK had a bright future outside the EU, Johnson said: “There’s a massive difference between leaving the EU and our relations with Europe, which if anything I think are going to be intensified.”
Johnson has described himself as a child of Europe , a liberal cosmopolitan whose “family is a genetic UN peacekeeping force”. Johnson has described himself as a child of Europe, a liberal cosmopolitan whose “family is a genetic UN peacekeeping force”.
He has also claimed it is “offensive, insulting, irrelevant and positively cretinous to be told – sometimes by people who can barely speak a foreign language – that I belong to a group of small-minded xenophobes”. He has claimed it is “offensive, insulting, irrelevant and positively cretinous to be told – sometimes by people who can barely speak a foreign language – that I belong to a group of small-minded xenophobes”.
Sir Peter Ricketts, a former UK ambassador to France, said Europeans would see Johnson “as a warm charismatic person”, and as a “pretty pragmatic bunch they will knuckle down to settling those problems”. Sir Peter Ricketts, a former UK ambassador to France, said Europeans would see Johnson “as a warm charismatic person” and as they were a “pretty pragmatic bunch, they will knuckle down to settling those problems”.
The previous foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, was due to hold an informal dinner with his fellow EU ministers on Sunday in Brussels, but it is now not clear if the talks will go ahead. If they do the ministers are likely to discuss the status of EU migrants in the UK, and of UK migrants in the EU. Uncertainty about the future legal status has led to some UK citizens applying for EU passports, fearing they may even be deported. The previous foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, was due to hold an informal dinner with his fellow EU ministers on Sunday in Brussels, but it is now not clear if the talks will go ahead. If they do, the ministers are likely to discuss the status of EU migrants in the UK and of UK migrants in the EU. Uncertainty about the future legal status has led to some UK citizens applying for EU passports, fearing they may even be deported.