UK’s May and Johnson battle it out as Brexit deadline looms
BIRMINGHAM, Uni t ed Kingdom: British Prime Minister Theresa May and her main rival Boris Johnson battled Tuesday to woo their Conservative party members, as the European Union raised the pressure on London to offer compromises to reach a Brexit deal.
Johnson will make his longant icipated speech to the party’s annual conference in Birmingham, central England, where he is expected to repeat his attacks on May’s strategy for leaving the EU.
Aides to the charismatic former foreign minister said he would also cover a wide range of domestic issues, reinforcing speculation that he is making a pitch for May’s job.
In broadcast interviews, the prime minister acknowledged Johnson’s speech would be a ‘ lively’ event, and called for her party to ‘come together’.
But she ensured she dominated the headlines by announcing a new immigration policy — something that was not expected until Wednesday, and will address many Tory members’ concerns.
Free movement of EU workers was a key issue in the 2016 vote for Brexit, and May confirmed that Europeans would be treated the same as non- EU citizens in future.
Her public battle with Johnson comes just weeks before May must return to Brussels in a bid to break the deadlock in Brexit negotiations and reach a deal.
The prime minister hinted at a possible compromise on how to keep the land border with Ireland open after Brexit, a key sticking point in the EU talks, on which London is due to publish new plans shortly.
EU Commission President JeanClaudeJunckermeanwhilewarned that London’s threat to walk away from the negotiations without a deal would have consequences.
“We want a deal. Those who think no deal would be the better solution are not aware of the difficulties such a scenario would imply,” he told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Johns on wa s a le ading campaigner for Brexit in the referendum. Even after being appointed foreign minister he continually challenged May’s EU strategy.
He quit in July in protest at her plan for Britain to follow EU rules in goods after Brexit, which she says will protect cross-border trade but he argues would keep London tied to the bloc well into the future.
The EU has also rejected the plan, saying it undermines the bloc’s cherished single market.
Nu merou s e u r o s c e p t i c Conservative MPs have already drawn big crowds in Birmingham as they offer their own idea for a looser trade arrangement with the EU.
Johnson endorses the same alternative proposal, but the maverick former London mayor has particular star power, and his lunchtime address in a 1,500capacity hall is expected to be packed.
“He’s not a details guy, but he’s a guy who has vision. And he’s a winner,” said Ian Burgess, a delegate in his 60s from Somerset in western England. — AFP