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Secret Boris Johnson column favoured UK remaining in EU Secret Boris Johnson column favoured UK remaining in EU
(about 1 hour later)
In a previously secret newspaper column, Boris Johnson said that Britain remaining in the European Union would be a “boon for the world and for Europe”In a previously secret newspaper column, Boris Johnson said that Britain remaining in the European Union would be a “boon for the world and for Europe”
The foreign secretary wrote the unpublished remain-backing article only two days before shocking David Cameron by revealing he would be campaigning for Brexit.The foreign secretary wrote the unpublished remain-backing article only two days before shocking David Cameron by revealing he would be campaigning for Brexit.
Johnson is now seen as a backer of a hard Brexit, this week insisting the UK can get a trade deal that is “of greater value” to the economy than access to the EU single market, which he described as an “increasingly useless” concept.Johnson is now seen as a backer of a hard Brexit, this week insisting the UK can get a trade deal that is “of greater value” to the economy than access to the EU single market, which he described as an “increasingly useless” concept.
But in the pro-EU article, revealed in a new book and published in the Sunday Times, he supported membership of the free trade zone. “This is a market on our doorstep, ready for further exploitation by British firms. The membership fee seems rather small for all that access. Why are we so determined to turn our back on it?” Johnson wrote.But in the pro-EU article, revealed in a new book and published in the Sunday Times, he supported membership of the free trade zone. “This is a market on our doorstep, ready for further exploitation by British firms. The membership fee seems rather small for all that access. Why are we so determined to turn our back on it?” Johnson wrote.
Sources close to Johnson said he wrote the article for the sole purpose of trying to articulate in his mind whether there was any merit in the remain argument and dismissed it out of hand as soon as he finished.Sources close to Johnson said he wrote the article for the sole purpose of trying to articulate in his mind whether there was any merit in the remain argument and dismissed it out of hand as soon as he finished.
He also warned that Brexit would cause an “economic shock” and could lead to the “break-up” of the United Kingdom in the article published in All Out War, by the newspaper’s political editor, Tim Shipman. He also warned that Brexit would cause an “economic shock” and could lead to the “break-up” of the United Kingdom in the article revealed in the book, All Out War: The Full Story of How Brexit Sank Britain’s Political Class, by the Sunday Times political editor, Tim Shipman.
The book also claims Sir Lynton Crosby told Johnson to support Brexit once Cameron had ignored the election strategist’s advice to delay the referendum.The book also claims Sir Lynton Crosby told Johnson to support Brexit once Cameron had ignored the election strategist’s advice to delay the referendum.
Among the other revelations, the remain campaign’s digital specialist, Jim Messina, apparently described Cameron’s pollster Andrew Cooper as “the worst I’ve ever worked with” for getting his forecasts about the vote dramatically wrong.Among the other revelations, the remain campaign’s digital specialist, Jim Messina, apparently described Cameron’s pollster Andrew Cooper as “the worst I’ve ever worked with” for getting his forecasts about the vote dramatically wrong.
And it said Johnson “wanted to punch” Michael Gove after his Leave campaign ally ran in the subsequent Tory leadership race alone and in effect torpedoed the former London mayor’s candidacy and hopes of becoming PM. And it said Johnson “wanted to punch” Michael Gove after his Leave campaign ally ran in the subsequent Tory leadership race alone and in effect torpedoed the former London mayor’s candidacy and hopes of becoming prime minister.
Meanwhile, the Treasury has described as “totally untrue” a Mail on Sunday claim that chancellor Philip Hammond was set to quit the government over its apparent shift towards leaving the single market. Meanwhile, the Treasury has described as “totally untrue” a Mail on Sunday claim that the chancellor, Philip Hammond, was set to quit the government over its apparent shift towards leaving the single market.