Boris and cabinet rebel meet in secret
LONDON Mayor Boris Johnson had secret talks with UK cabinet rebel Michael Gove last week on whether to defy Prime Minister David Cameron on the Brexit referendum on EU membership.
The two dined at the mayor’s home on Tuesday, where they agreed the PM’s new EU deal was ‘thin’.
Shortly afterwards, Justice Secretary Mr Gove shocked Downing Street by joining the ‘Out’ campaign to cut Britain’s ties with Brussels.
The disclosure of the secret dinner – and the pair’s sharp criticism of the outcome of Mr Cameron’s negotiations – will fuel fevered speculation about which side Mr Johnson will back in the forthcoming EU vote.
Yesterday, Mr Gove and five fellow ministers staged a dramatic revolt at a crisis cabinet meeting on the referendum.
Friends of Mr Johnson said last night he was still ‘agonising’ over his stance on the issue.
Number 10 aides fear that if Mr Johnson follows Mr Gove’s surprise ‘defection’ to the ‘Out’ camp, the two formidable politicians could inflict a humiliating defeat on Mr Cameron.
However, there is better news for the PM today as a new poll shows the ‘In’ campaign has surged into a 15-point lead. According to the Survation poll for The Mail on Sunday, 48% of voters want to stay in the EU, with 33% in favour of leaving, and 19% undecided.
However, the poll also found that if Mr Cameron loses the referendum and is forced to resign as Prime Minister, Mr Johnson is the public’s clear first choice to succeed him.