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Tories condemn Boris Johnson for Brexit 'suicide vest' remarks Tories condemn Boris Johnson for Brexit 'suicide vest' remarks
(about 2 hours later)
Senior Tories have heavily criticised Boris Johnson for describing the government’s Brexit strategy as putting the UK constitution in a “suicide vest”.Senior Tories have heavily criticised Boris Johnson for describing the government’s Brexit strategy as putting the UK constitution in a “suicide vest”.
The home secretary, Sajid Javid, saying his ex-colleague should think carefully about his language. But other Tory MPs were more vehement. Alan Duncan, until July a Foreign Office colleague of Johnson, vowed to ensure the comments marked “the political end” of the former foreign secretary. The home secretary, Sajid Javid, said his former cabinet colleague should think carefully about his language. Other Tory MPs were more vehement. Alan Duncan, until July a Foreign Office colleague of Johnson, vowed to ensure the comments marked “the political end” of the former foreign secretary.
Johnson used the phrase in an article for the Mail on Sunday which castigated Theresa May for, he said, repeatedly caving in over Brexit terms to the EU and its chief negotiator, Michel Barnier. Johnson used the phrase in an article for the Mail on Sunday in which he accused Theresa May of repeatedly caving in over Brexit terms to the EU and its chief negotiator, Michel Barnier.
It came on a day when many Sunday papers were filled with new allegations about Johnson’s private life following the announcement he is to divorce his wife of 25 years, Marina Wheeler. There was speculation he was seeking to change the narrative. It came on a day when many Sunday papers were filled with new allegations about Johnson’s private life after the announcement that he and his wife of 25 years, Marina Wheeler, are divorcing. There was speculation that he was seeking to change the narrative.
“At every stage in the talks so far, Brussels gets what Brussels wants,” Johnson wrote. “We have agreed to the EU’s timetable; we have agreed to hand over £39bn, for nothing in return.“At every stage in the talks so far, Brussels gets what Brussels wants,” Johnson wrote. “We have agreed to the EU’s timetable; we have agreed to hand over £39bn, for nothing in return.
“Under the Chequers proposal we are set to agree to accept their rules – forever – with no say on the making of those rules. “Under the Chequers proposal we are set to agree to accept their rules – forever – with no say on the making of those rules. It is a humiliation. We look like a seven-stone weakling being comically bent out of shape by a 500lb gorilla.”
“It is a humiliation. We look like a seven-stone weakling being comically bent out of shape by a 500lb gorilla.” Johnson, who quit as foreign secretary in July in protest at May’s Chequers proposals for Brexit, castigated the EU’s so-called backstop plan to ensure no hard Irish border, which would see Northern Ireland effectively remain part of the single market if no other workable solution is found.
Johnson, who quit as foreign secretary in July in protest at May’s Chequers proposals for Brexit, castigated the EU’s so-called backstop plan to ensure no hard Irish border, which would see Northern Ireland effectively remain part of the single market if no other workable solution was found.
Johnson wrote: “We have opened ourselves to perpetual political blackmail. We have wrapped a suicide vest around the British constitution – and handed the detonator to Michel Barnier.”Johnson wrote: “We have opened ourselves to perpetual political blackmail. We have wrapped a suicide vest around the British constitution – and handed the detonator to Michel Barnier.”
Asked about the phrasing on BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show, Javid said: “I think there are much better ways to articulate your differences. It’s a reminder for all of us in public policy, whichever political party we represent, to use measured language, because I think that’s what the public want to see.” Asked about the phrasing on BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show, Javid said: “I think there are much better ways to articulate your differences. It’s a reminder for all of us in public policy, whichever political party we represent, to use measured language, because I think that’s what the public want to see.”
But the home secretary sought to play down the broader criticism of the Chequers plan: “It’s not news that he has a difference of opinion with the prime minister. That’s why he’s left the government.” Javid sought to play down the broader criticism of the Chequers plan. “It’s not news that he has a difference of opinion with the prime minister. That’s why he’s left the government,” he said.
Asked about an earlier contentious use of language by Johnson – in which he compared women wearing niqabs to “letter boxes” – Javid said it was “not language I would use”, but that he did not believe Johnson was Islamophobic. Javid said: “No, absolutely not. Not in the slightest.” Asked about an earlier contentious use of language by Johnson – in which he compared women wearing niqabs to “letter boxes” – Javid said it was “not language I would use” but he did not believe Johnson was Islamophobic. Javid said: “No, absolutely not. Not in the slightest.”
The housing secretary, James Brokenshire, told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday he thought Johnson had used the wrong tone in the article.The housing secretary, James Brokenshire, told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday he thought Johnson had used the wrong tone in the article.
“I think he is wrong on this, I think the tone that he has used isn’t right,” he said. “I think that we just need to be very focused on actually moving forward with the Chequers plan.”“I think he is wrong on this, I think the tone that he has used isn’t right,” he said. “I think that we just need to be very focused on actually moving forward with the Chequers plan.”
Other senior Tories were more condemnatory. Duncan, a junior Foreign Office minister, tweeted: “For Boris to say that the PM’s view is like that of a suicide bomber is too much. This marks one of the most disgusting moments in modern British politics. I’m sorry, but this is the political end of Boris Johnson. If it isn’t now, I will make sure it is later.” Other senior Tories were more condemnatory. Duncan, a junior Foreign Office minister, tweeted: “For Boris to say that the PM’s view is like that of a suicide bomber is too much. This marks one of the most disgusting moments in modern British politics. I’m sorry but this is the political end of Boris Johnson. If it isn’t now, I will make sure it is later.”
For Boris to say that the PM’s view is like that of a suicide bomber is too much. This marks one of the most disgusting moments in modern British politics. I’m sorry, but this is the political end of Boris Johnson. If it isn’t now, I will make sure it is later. #neverfittogovern https://t.co/rdI0FWQhbi Another Foreign Office minister, Alistair Burt, said the analogy was “outrageous, inappropriate and hurtful”.
Another foreign office minister, Alistair Burt, said that the analogy was “outrageous, inappropriate and hurtful”. The Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, a former soldier who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee, tweeted: “A suicide bomber murdered many in the courtyard of my office in Helmand. The carnage was disgusting, limbs and flesh hanging from trees and bushes. Brave men who stopped him killing me and others died in horrific pain. Some need to grow up. Comparing the PM to that isn’t funny.”
I’m stunned at the nature of this attack. There is no justification for such an outrageous, inappropriate and hurtful analogy. If we don’t stop this extraordinary use of language over Brexit, our country might never heal. Again, I say, enough. https://t.co/DWVuWQgzZy Hinting that she believed the wide-ranging criticism had been orchestrated, the Brexit-supporting Tory MP Nadine Dorries said: “Don’t underestimate the vitriol that’ll be directed towards Boris today. He delivered the leave vote, remainers and wannabe future PMs hate him.”
Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, a former soldier who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee, said in a tweet: “A suicide bomber murdered many in the courtyard of my office in Helmand. The carnage was disgusting, limbs and flesh hanging from trees and bushes. Brave men who stopped him killing me and others died in horrific pain. Some need to grow up. Comparing the PM to that isn’t funny.” Johnson has set his opposition to Brexit at the heart of what most assume to be an imminent attempt to wrest the Conservative leadership from May and impose an as yet not fully described alternative Brexit strategy.
A suicide bomber murdered many in the courtyard of my office in Helmand. The carnage was disgusting, limbs and flesh hanging from trees and bushes. Brave men who stopped him killing me and others died In horrific pain. Some need to grow up. Comparing the PM to that isn’t funny. https://t.co/IeRWhmhgS9 In his Mail article, Johnson said the backstop and the Chequers plan would both mean “agreeing to take EU rules, with no say on those rules”, leaving the UK a “vassal state”.
Hinting that she believed the wide-ranging criticism had been orchestrated, Brexit supporting Tory MP Nadine Dorries said: “Don’t underestimate the vitriol that’ll be directed towards Boris today. He delivered the leave vote, remainers and wannabe future PMs hate him.” 
Johnson has set his opposition to Brexit at the heart of what most assume to be an imminent attempt to wrest the Conservative leadership from May, and impose an as yet not fully described alternative Brexit strategy.
In his Mail article, Johnson said the backstop and the Chequers plan would both mean “agreeing to take EU rules, with no say on those rules”, leaving the country a “vassal state”.
He said: “We have managed to reduce the great British Brexit to two appalling options: either we must divide the union, or the whole country must accept EU law forever.”He said: “We have managed to reduce the great British Brexit to two appalling options: either we must divide the union, or the whole country must accept EU law forever.”
Johnson said there were “far better technical solutions” to the Irish border issue.Johnson said there were “far better technical solutions” to the Irish border issue.
Meanwhile, Johnson faces repeated questions about allegations of multiple affairs amid his marriage break-up, with several reports on Sunday detailing new claims. Meanwhile, Johnson faces questions about allegations of multiple affairs amid his marriage breakup, with several reports on Sunday detailing new claims.
The Sunday Times reported that May's aides had drawn up a dossier on Johnson at the time of the 2016 leadership contest. The Sunday Times reported that May's aides had drawn up a dossier on Johnson at the time of the 2016 leadership contest. It was not used after his campaign failed to get off the launchpad, but the newspaper reported the 4,000-word “war book” was circulating in Westminster last week amid claims “black ops” attacks were being planned against him.
It was not used after his campaign failed to get off the launch pad, but the newspaper reported the 4,000-word “war book” was circulating in Westminster last week amid claims “black ops” attacks were being planned against him.
Officials at Downing Street and Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) denied circulating the document.Officials at Downing Street and Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) denied circulating the document.
Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
BrexitBrexit
Theresa MayTheresa May
ConservativesConservatives
Foreign policyForeign policy
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