Boris tells rivals to get on with the job
BORIS Johnson called on Cabinet colleagues to end the “political kerfuffle” and “get on with governing” as he arrived in Australia on the latest leg of a tour promoting international trade.
The Foreign Secretary’s calls for peace among rival ministers came as he declared that the UK is “near the front of the queue” for doing a deal with New Zealand on the first leg of his tour of the Antipodes.
He said post-Brexit trade will be “top of the agenda” for the three-day visit, which follows stops in Japan and New Zealand.
“The bonds of kinship between Britain and Australia are deep and enduring,” said Mr Johnson.
“Our relationship is based on shared history, interests and values, with large numbers of our nationals making each other’s countries home.
“I look forward to strengthening even further our partnerships on global challenges and opportunities, such as North Korea, the fight against extremism and terror, modern slavery and trade.”
Before flying to Australia, Mr Johnson toured the Zealandia wildlife sanctuary for indigenous species near Wellington, where he held a tuatara lizard and took snaps on his smartphone. After being greeted by a shout of “Boris for PM” at a ceremony in the Kiwi capital, he played down the idea that he was in the running to replace Theresa May as prime minister.
Insisting that the call was “diametrically opposed” to his own opinion, Mr Johnson said: “What the British people want to see is a government that gets on with the job and they’ve got that with Theresa and we are going to deliver a great Brexit deal... They see no need for any more political kerfuffle.”
When asked if “infighting” could compromise progress in trade discussions, Mr Johnson said any suggestion of discord in the Conservative Party had “completely passed me by”.