Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Boris ‘to be a Brexit Martyr’
Coup fears if he and PM fall out
SCHEMING Boris Johnson yesterday fuelled claims he could launch a bid to oust Theresa May if the pair fall out over Brexit.
The Foreign Secretary refused to rule out quitting the Cabinet should the PM decide to have close alignment with the EU after we leave.
It led to speculation Johnson could become a “Brexit martyr” who would ride to the rescue of Leavers wanting to cut all ties with Europe.
His refusal to say he would resign came after a rambling London speech devoid of any detail over our withdrawal – in which he managed to offend those travelling to Thailand with cheap sexual innuendos.
Labour peer Lord Adonis said: “Johnson’s refusal to deny he would quit is more juvenile game playing. He should resign now as he has yet to demonstrate any understanding of Britain’s place in the world.” Even Tories turned on Johnson for failing to reveal how the UK would trade with Brussels post-brexit and not mentioning the Irish border.
MP Anna Soubry launched a vicious attack on Mr Johnson, telling Channel 4 News: “I’m afraid to say that Boris has confirmed my very worst fears about him. I don’t think he’s a very good Foreign Secretary.
“It was actually a pitiful speech and I think a lot of people found it really rather embarrassing.”
Mr Johnson had said: “We have more than a million who go to Thailand every year where, according to consular services, they get up to things on which I make no comment.”
Mr Johnson also insisted Britain should break free from EU regulation that protect workers’ rights. Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: “That is the opposite of what businesses and unions want to hear.”
And Mr Johnson infuriated the EU by accusing it of wanting “a united states of Europe”. European Commission President Jean-claude Juncker insisted: “This is total nonsense.”
Party leader Arlene Foster pulled the plug on a deal with Sinn Fein yesterday afternoon and blamed it on the republicans’ immovable stance on an Irish Language Act.
But that very Act was agreed by DUP founder, the late Ian Paisley, when he signed the St Andrews Agreement in 2006.
So it would be fair to ask whether this is being made a scapegoat for the DUP’S decision to quit the talks.
After all, their party is propping up the Government. What is their motivation to restore power here when they already hold all the cards in Westminster?
The DUP and Sinn Fein need to get their heads together before the uncertainties of Brexit take effect.
Mrs Foster said Northern Ireland is “best governed by local ministers who are accountable to local people”.
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