Johnson challenges May’s Brexit plans

Former minister calls strategy dangerous, unstable and a political humiliation

Britain’s Boris Johnson yesterday launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plan at a fractious party conference that came as Brussels pressed London for a compromise on leaving the EU.

Mixing jokes with biting one-liners that always stopped short of attacking May herself, the former foreign minister called her strategy “dangerous and unstable”, as well as a “political humiliation”.

“My fellow Conservatives, this is not democracy. This is not what we voted for. This is an outrage,” he said in a 35-minute address that was interrupted by repeated bursts of laughter and cheers.

The wide-ranging speech, which many saw as Johnson’s audition for May’s job, was attended by some 1,500 people who packed a conference hall room after queueing for hours.

Johnson did little to douse suspicions of an eventual leadership bid, using his characteristic swagger and wit to pick apart the faults of May’s proposal - while not actually spelling out what Britain should do instead. He said he wanted “to back Theresa May” by forcing her to reverse her attempts to keep close economic ties with the European Union once Britain leaves in March.

May appeared intent on stealing Johnson’s spotlight, scheduling a flurry of morning interviews at which she unveiled a new immigration policy a day ahead of schedule.

Free movement of EU workers was a key issue in the 2016 vote for Brexit.

May’s public battle with Johnson comes only two weeks before she must return to Brussels in a bid to break the Brexit deadlock and reach a deal.

The prime minister hinted at a possible compromise on how to keep the land border with Ireland open after Brexit, a key sticking point in the EU talks.