Boris seeks to steer negotiations with his vision of Brexit future

LONDON: Britain’s Foreign Minister Boris Johnson has been accused by cabinet colleagues of “backseat driving” on Brexit after setting out his own vision of the country’s future outside the European Union.

Only days before Prime Minister Theresa May is due to speak in Italy about Britain’s planned EU departure, Johnson published a 4 300-word newspaper article that roamed well beyond his ministerial brief and, in some cases, the approach set out by the government.

Interior Minister Amber Rudd said it was “absolutely fine” for the foreign secretary to intervene publicly.

However, she did not want him managing the Brexit process.

“What we have is Theresa May managing that process; she’s driving the car,” Rudd told the BBC’s Andrew Marr yesterday.

Asked if Johnson was backseat driving, she replied: “Yes, you could call it backseat driving, absolutely.”

Johnson’s article re-ignited speculation that he would challenge May for the leadership of the Conservative Party.

Rudd, however, said she did not think Johnson was laying the groundwork to challenge May.

“He, like I, supports the prime minister at this difficult time as we try to conclude the negotiations with the EU.”

May’s deputy, Damian Green, also weighed in, saying Johnson had written a “very exuberant” article but it is “clear the driver of the car is the prime minister”.

Johnson had written in the Daily Telegraph that Britain would not pay to access European markets in the future.

A prominent Brexit campaigner, Johnson also repeated his claim that the government would be £350 million (R6.2 billion) a week better off outside the EU. – Reuters