Boris: We need to build bridges with the French *
He claims Tunnel will be full in 7yrs
BORIS Johnson has defended his call for a bridge between Britain and France by saying the Channel Tunnel will be “full” by 2025.
The Foreign Secretary also insisted French President Emmanuel Macron backs the idea of a crossing over the Strait of Dover.
Mr Johnson said he wants private firms to foot the estimated £120billion bill for the post-Brexit bridge.
He told the Commons yesterday: “Most people will appreciate the... Channel Tunnel is likely, at the present rate, to be full within the next seven years... It is a curiosity that two of the most powerful economies in the world, separated by barely 21 miles of water, are connected by only one railway line.” Mr Johnson, whose various diplomatic gaffes have caused offence around the world, added it has been agreed “a committee of wise people” should be set up to look at his plan and other collaborations between Britain and France. But Lib Dem deputy leader Jo Swinson slammed his “fantasy engineering projects”.
Patrick Grady, of the SNP, warned of chaos due to customs checks after Brexit. He said: “What’s the point of a 20-mile bridge if there is going to be a 20-mile queue to get on to it?”
Mr Johnson floated the bridge idea last month. Figures show 4.28 million cars, trucks and coaches used the Tunnel last year (up from 3.2 million a decade before), and 10.3 million Eurostar passengers used the link (up from 9.1 million).
■ Brexit Secretary David Davis made a bizarre reference to his robot lawnmower yesterday as he spoke in Austria to launch the Government’s latest Brexit charm offensive.