BORIS: NO-DEAL BREXIT IS NOTHING TO FEAR
Eurocrats need to ‘look us in the eye’ and see we really do mean business
BORIS Johnson attacked Project Fear claims about a no-deal Brexit last night, declaring Britain is ready to leave.
The Tory leadership frontrunner said he wanted Eurocrats to “look into our eyes” and understand that his government means to take
the UK out of the bloc on October 31. He dismissed claims that Tory MPs would block the move, warning the party is “staring down the barrel” and will continue to “haemorrhage support” if it fails to meet the deadline.
Mr Johnson has warned he is “not bluffing” about meeting the Halloween exit date, come what may. He told supporters no-deal preparations were so advanced, Britain could have left on March 29 without a divorce deal in place.
“We were ready,” he said. “We could have done it, but for political reasons we decided not to.
“I know there are all sorts of people who think we can’t do it and the planes won’t fly and there won’t be clean drinking water and all the rest of it. That isn’t true.
“Whatever deal we come up with, the planes will fly, there will be clean drinking water and we will have glucose and milk solids and whey to make our Mars bars, contrary to some of the prognostications of the ministry of agriculture because where there’s a will there’s a way.”
Betray
He added: “The momentum is on the side of exit because unless the UK government actually requests an extension the formal position is we leave on October 31 and that is what we are going to do.”
His tough stance has already put EU chiefs on edge. Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt tweeted yesterday: “Brexit is not a game! A no-deal would be disastrous both for the UK and for Europe.”
Ballot papers have gone out to the Conservative Party’s 160,000 members and many have already cast their vote, or will in the next few days.The contest closes on July 22, with the winner announced the next day.
Underdog Jeremy Hunt insisted the result was not a forgone conclusion. In a conference call with Tory members, he said: “We’ve established this race as a contest, not a coronation. Now we are going to show it’s also an upset.” Mr Hunt also vowed a treason laws overhaul to “make the punishment fit the crime”, with life sentences for Britons who join jihadist groups fighting against UK forces.
“We must be able to properly punish those who betray our country,” he said.
But his campaign was dealt a blow yesterday when Home Secretary Sajid Javid, a former leadership contender, announced he was backing Mr Johnson.
Mr Javid said: “I made the case for being a party that unites our country, protects our precious union, embraces modern Britain, and brings Conservative values to
new audiences. I’ve spoken to
Boris and believe he shares this vision wholeheartedly.
“I have huge respect for Jeremy but I believe Boris is better placed to deliver what we need to do at this critical time.”
Answering questions online from supporters, Mr Johnson insisted he was “not aiming” to leave the EU without an agreement in place.
The former foreign secretary said it would be “good” if power sharing was restored in Northern Ireland before the UK leaves, but Brussels needed to know the country was leaving on October 31, the new default exit date. “I’m not remotely aiming for a no-deal outcome,” he said. “That’s not where I think we will end up.
“But in order to achieve the result that we want and in order to convince our friends and partners of the seriousness of our intent, it is vital that we are genuinely ready.
Damage
“They have to be able to look into our eyes and think, ‘Well, this time the Brits really do intend to come out on October 31’.
“I think it will help the negotiations, encourage our friends and partners to give us the deal that we want.” Tory MPs are threatening to find ways to block Britain’s exit on
October 31 if a deal has not been struck, with some said to be ready to bring down the Government if it becomes a real prospect.
But Mr Johnson dismissed the claims and said the Conservative Party was facing real damage if it did not deliver Brexit.
He said: “We are staring down the barrel. We all know that if we don’t get this thing done we are going to continue to haemorrhage support to the Brexit Party and also to the Liberal Democrats who are symmetrically feasting on our inability to get things done.”
Mr Johnson said delivering Brexit would “take the wind out of the sails” of Nigel Farage’s party
and the Lib Dems, and “prick those twin puff balls” feeding on the sense of decay in politics.
He accused Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of “superhuman incompetence” and said he would “wallop him out of the park” in a general election.
“I think he would be a disaster for our country and I don’t think he is going to succeed,” he added.
Mr Johnson set out his upbeat vision after telling a Sunday newspaper Theresa May’s premiership had been shrouded in negativity.
He said the Prime Minister had presided over a “diet of miserablism” and a “computer says no” approach in government.
‘Whatever deal we come up with, the planes will fly, there will be clean drinking water and we’ll still be able to make Mars bars’