Boris in plan to protect powers

Boris Johnson yesterday put forward a plan to protect British sovereignty – although he admitted it would make Brussels “go ape”.

TheMayor of London said David Cameron should aim to give the British parliament the ability torejectandoverturn European Union (EU) legislation as part of his renegotiations with Brussels.

The prime minister touched on the issue of sovereignty during his speech on Europe last week as he set out the changes he wants to secure ahead of a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU which is set to take place before the end of 2017. But Mr Johnson told a Sunday newspaper he wants the prime minister to work towards giving a legislative “brake” to lawmakers in the UK which would only ever be used “very, very sparingly”.

He said such a move would be an “absolute game-changer” adding: “You could amend the act which says that all EU directives, regulations and other obligations have supremacy over British law to say that it has supremacy unless expressly overturned by parliament.

“The great thing, whichmakes it so attractive, is that you don’t need a negotiation. You don’t need Angela Merkel’s permission at all. All you need is to get it through the House of Commons. It could be done by us alone.”

Mr Johnson then admitted such a move would make Brussels “go ape”.

Boris Johnson: idea