This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/19/boris-johnson-could-resign-if-theresa-may-opts-for-swiss-style-brexit
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Boris Johnson could resign if Theresa May opts for 'Swiss-style' Brexit | Boris Johnson could resign if Theresa May opts for 'Swiss-style' Brexit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson could resign if Theresa May signals she will pursue a “Swiss-style” Brexit, even though he is publicly denying he will walk away from the cabinet. | |
| The foreign secretary told reporters in New York he would not resign and denied the cabinet was split over Brexit policy, insisting: “We are a nest of singing birds.” | |
| But it is understood that Johnson considers it could be a resigning matter if May leans towards the kind of “soft Brexit” relationship advocated by Philip Hammond, the chancellor. | But it is understood that Johnson considers it could be a resigning matter if May leans towards the kind of “soft Brexit” relationship advocated by Philip Hammond, the chancellor. |
| The Telegraph reported on Tuesday that the foreign secretary could even quit the cabinet before the weekend if May signals that she will sign up the UK to paying for access to the single market permanently in an arrangement similar to staying in the European Economic Area (EEA). | |
| This option similar to the arrangements adopted by Switzerland is known by its critics as the “EEA-lite”, but would be a way of preserving the benefits of the single market. | This option similar to the arrangements adopted by Switzerland is known by its critics as the “EEA-lite”, but would be a way of preserving the benefits of the single market. |
| Friends of Johnson told the newspaper he “could not live with” the version of Brexit under consideration, which prompted the publication of his personal blueprint for Brexit in the Telegraph at the weekend. | |
| One source close to Johnson said the Telegraph’s claims that a resignation could be imminent were nonsense and “totally made-up”. However, his article was widely regarded as a warning shot to the prime minister as she prepares to deliver her major Brexit speech on Friday. | One source close to Johnson said the Telegraph’s claims that a resignation could be imminent were nonsense and “totally made-up”. However, his article was widely regarded as a warning shot to the prime minister as she prepares to deliver her major Brexit speech on Friday. |
| Johnson was piqued that a meeting of other senior ministers involved in Brexit was held last week when he was inspecting hurricane damage in the Caribbean. | Johnson was piqued that a meeting of other senior ministers involved in Brexit was held last week when he was inspecting hurricane damage in the Caribbean. |
| May’s speech is expected to focus on the transitional period after March 2019, and moot the idea of a “pay to play” deal, where the UK would pay for access to the single market and customs union. | May’s speech is expected to focus on the transitional period after March 2019, and moot the idea of a “pay to play” deal, where the UK would pay for access to the single market and customs union. |
| But the foreign secretary – who appears to have the backing of other pro-leave ministers, including Michael Gove – was unhappy about some of the wording in the speech. | But the foreign secretary – who appears to have the backing of other pro-leave ministers, including Michael Gove – was unhappy about some of the wording in the speech. |
| He was concerned the prime minister was preparing to send a public signal that she would like to see a close long-term relationship with the rest of the EU along the lines of Norway, or Switzerland – with more leeway over freedom of movement. | He was concerned the prime minister was preparing to send a public signal that she would like to see a close long-term relationship with the rest of the EU along the lines of Norway, or Switzerland – with more leeway over freedom of movement. |
| Johnson and others fear that would limit the UK’s ability to do deals with other countries; and require the UK to mirror EU regulations too closely. Saturday’s controversial Daily Telegraph article was aimed at sending a signal he could not support such a relationship. | Johnson and others fear that would limit the UK’s ability to do deals with other countries; and require the UK to mirror EU regulations too closely. Saturday’s controversial Daily Telegraph article was aimed at sending a signal he could not support such a relationship. |
| Johnson and May are both in New York for the United Nations general assembly but they have not spoken even though they are staying in the same hotel. They are due to attend the same function later on Tuesday evening. | |
| Speculation about the foreign secretary’s future has been rife since the article was published, as some senior Conservatives believe he should have been sacked for departing from collective responsibility. Ken Clarke, the former chancellor, said he would undoubtedly have been dismissed if May was not in such a weak position. | Speculation about the foreign secretary’s future has been rife since the article was published, as some senior Conservatives believe he should have been sacked for departing from collective responsibility. Ken Clarke, the former chancellor, said he would undoubtedly have been dismissed if May was not in such a weak position. |
| “Sounding off personally in this way is totally unhelpful and he shouldn’t exploit the fact that [Theresa May] hasn’t got a majority in parliament,” Clarke said on Tuesday. “And he knows perfectly well that, normally, a foreign secretary would be sacked instantly for doing that.” | “Sounding off personally in this way is totally unhelpful and he shouldn’t exploit the fact that [Theresa May] hasn’t got a majority in parliament,” Clarke said on Tuesday. “And he knows perfectly well that, normally, a foreign secretary would be sacked instantly for doing that.” |
| However, May could leave herself vulnerable to a leadership challenge if she sacked Johnson, whose intervention won the backing of hardline eurosceptics and former Vote Leave supporters. | However, May could leave herself vulnerable to a leadership challenge if she sacked Johnson, whose intervention won the backing of hardline eurosceptics and former Vote Leave supporters. |