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Boris Johnson: Britain could have glorious future outside EU Boris Johnson: Britain could have glorious future outside EU
(about 2 hours later)
Boris Johnson has said Britain could have a "great and glorious future" outside the European Union, as he positions himself as one of the most Eurosceptic senior politicians in the Conservative party. Boris Johnson has said Britain could have a "great and glorious future" outside the EU, as he positions himself as one of the most Eurosceptic senior politicians in the Conservative party.
While the prime minister holidays in Portugal, the London mayor is preparing to give a speech arguing that Britain should not be "paranoid and scared" about a future outside of the European bloc. While the prime minister took his break in Portugal, the London mayor was preparing to give a speech arguing that Britain should not be "paranoid and scared" about a future outside the European bloc.
His comments are likely to be seen as stirring up the issue for the Conservative party, as David Cameron has always refused to make clear whether he would ever advocate leaving the EU. His comments are likely to be seen as stirring up the issue for the Conservatives since David Cameron has always refused to make it clear whether he would ever advocate leaving the EU.
Cameron hopes to negotiate reforms of Britain's relationship with Brussels before arguing for the UK to stay in the EU during a referendum before the end of 2018, and will not countenance the idea of the failure of these plans. Cameron hopes to negotiate a reform of Britain's relationship with Brussels before arguing for the UK to stay in the EU during a referendum before the end of 2018. He will not countenance the idea of the failure of these plans.
However, Johnson has commissioned a report from his chief economic adviser, Gerard Lyons, due to be published on Wednesday, which is likely to say that the UK could be better off leaving the EU rather than accepting the unreformed status quo. Lyons has said leaving the EU on good terms comes a "very close second" to staying in a significantly reformed EU. However, Johnson has commissioned a report from his chief economic adviser, Gerard Lyons, due to be published on Wednesday, which is likely to say that the UK could be better off leaving the EU rather than accepting the status quo.
Speaking on an LBC 97.3 phone-in, Johnson said: "What I will be arguing is that there are all sorts of viable futures for this country, and we don't have to be afraid. And there is a great and glorious future for Britain in Europe, if we can reform it, but there might also be a great and glorious future, and I'm sure there is a great and glorious future, as an open outward-looking economy that has great trading relations with Europe but starts to think more and more about the rest of the world where you are seeing huge growth." Lyons has said that leaving the EU on good terms comes a "very close second" to staying connected to a significantly reformed union.
Asked whether that meant coming out of Europe, he said: "What I'm saying to people is people should not be paranoid and scared about that option. I think there is a lot of unnecessary apprehension … I don't think there is any need to be afraid. I doubt the prime minister is afraid of any such thing. But what I do think we need to do is to be absolutely confident that we can argue for a deal that will be good for Europe, and if we fail to get that, if we fail for any reason to get an improvement in the way the EU functions in the course of the renegotiation which the prime minister has rightly called for, then I think it follows that we have got also to be prepared for a life outside." Speaking on an LBC 97.3 phone-in programme, Johnson said: "What I will be arguing is that there are all sorts of viable futures for this country, and we don't have to be afraid.
The speech comes against a backdrop of speculation about whether Johnson will run for parliament this year, potentially entering with still a year to go before the end of his term as mayor in May 2016. And there is a great and glorious future for Britain in Europe if we can reform it. But there might also be a great and glorious future – and I'm sure there is a great and glorious future – as an open, outward-looking economy that has great trading relations with Europe but starts to think more and more about the rest of the world, where you are seeing huge growth."
Asked whether that meant coming out of Europe, he said: "What I'm saying to people is, people should not be paranoid and scared about that option. I think there is a lot of unnecessary apprehension … I don't think there is any need to be afraid. I doubt the prime minister is afraid of any such thing.
"But what I do think we need to do is to be absolutely confident that we can argue for a deal that will be good for Europe, and if we fail to get that, if we fail for any reason to get an improvement in the way the EU functions in the course of the renegotiation which the prime minister has rightly called for, then I think it follows that we have got also to be prepared for a life outside."
The speech comes against a backdrop of speculation about whether Johnson will run for parliament this year, potentially entering it with still a year to go before his term as mayor ends in May 2016.
For years, Johnson has dodged the question of whether he would ever want to succeed Cameron as leader of the Conservative party. If the prime minister loses the election and resigns, Johnson would need to be in parliament to have a go at challenging other contenders for the top job, such as George Osborne and Theresa May.For years, Johnson has dodged the question of whether he would ever want to succeed Cameron as leader of the Conservative party. If the prime minister loses the election and resigns, Johnson would need to be in parliament to have a go at challenging other contenders for the top job, such as George Osborne and Theresa May.