NOW CAMERON TURNS NASTY
PM’s savage attack on Boris for backing Out campaign
THE Tories were at war over the EU last night after an astonishing revenge attack by the Prime Minister on Boris Johnson. In a packed Commons chamber, David Cameron accused his long- standing rival of backing the Out campaign solely to further his dream of becoming PM.
‘I’m not standing for re-election,’ said Mr Cameron. ‘I have no other agenda than what is best for our country.’
Shaking his head, Mr Johnson responded: ‘Rubbish, rubbish.’
One observer said the parliamentary exchange was jaw- dropping; another described it as the most savage ‘ blue on blue’ clash since Geoffrey Howe took on Margaret Thatcher in 1990.
Tory MPs urged Mr Cameron to show more respect for opposing views and ‘be nice to Boris’. In another day of high drama:
Downing Street published a dossier saying leaving the EU would push up air fares and phone bills, put jobs at risk and make it harder to track foreign criminals;
Eurosceptics dismissed the taxpayerfunded paper as a product of ‘Project Fear’;
The pound suffered its worst day in seven years after Mr Johnson joined the Leave camp;
Mr Cameron claimed the only world leader who wanted Britain to quit the Brussels club was Russia’s Vladimir Putin;
No 10 admitted being behind a letter signed by FTSE 100 bosses that warns of the dangers of Britain quitting the EU;
A number of firms have refused to sign it, saying the decision lay with voters;
More Tory ministers joined the Out campaign, which is on course to win the support of around half the parliamentary party.
Mr Cameron delivered his broadside during a three- hour session at Westminster in
which he presented his muchcriticised Brussels renegotiation deal to MPs.
He was already under huge pressure after the defections of london mayor Mr Johnson and the Prime Minister’s close friend and cabinet heavyweight Michael Gove to the Out camp over the weekend.
Mr cameron struck a defiant tone and repeated his warning that the leave campaign was calling for a ‘leap in the dark’.
But the session exploded into life when the PM turned to the question of whether Britain could vote to leave the eU, then immediately reopen negotiations to stay.
Mr Johnson has faced claims that he does not want to leave permanently. rather, his critics said, he wants to lead Britain out of the eU then back in again, but on better terms.
the mayor denies this. But Mr cameron said: ‘On diplomacy, the idea that other european countries would be ready to start a second negotiation is for the birds.
‘i have known a number of couples who have begun divorce proceedings but i do not know of any who have begun divorce proceedings in order to renew their marriage vows.’
no 10 sources strongly denied the divorce remark had been aimed at Mr Johnson, who is on his second marriage.
labour MPs delighted in the PM’s attack, crying ‘ more, more’. Mr cameron referred to them as his ‘new friends’.
Mr cameron later attended a 30-minute meeting of the tory 1922 committee. Steve Baker MP suggested the PM had succumbed to a ‘moment of high drama’ over Mr Johnson. He added: ‘A couple of us mentioned Boris. i said, “i know it’s hard, but please be kind to Boris.” there was a peal of laughter. Of course he is going to be kind to Boris, he’s going to be respectful to all colleagues.
‘they are people who have known each other for a long time. it’s a moment of high drama and i felt for Boris, but Boris is taking quite a beating at the moment in the press, and obviously he took perhaps a little bruise in the commons, but he’s a big man.’ Mr cameron arrived at the meeting to a muted welcome but left with his arm around eurosceptic Philip Davies. Friends of Mr Johnson said: ‘He’s not remotely angry or bothered. He didn’t even notice the jibe on marriage and elections. He feels what matters is that the country hears the arguments on both sides – no side wins by attacking the other.’
As he left the commons on his bicycle, Mr Johnson replied ‘no’ when asked if there was a civil war within the conservative Party. ‘it’s glutinous harmony’, he added.
Mark Wallace, of the tory grassroots website conservative Home, said: ‘Jaw-dropping decision by cameron to fire shots in anger against Boris.’
last night, there were reports that even pro-eU MPs are despairing of the PM, with one telling c4 news: ‘cameron is toast. He and the entire project is over. continuity through George, or whoever, is over.
‘the next leader will come before the end of the year and it’ll be someone in the next generation.’