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May wraps 'suicide vest' around UK over Brexit, says Johnson

By Elizabeth Piper

 

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson delivers a speech on Brexit at the Policy Exchange in central London, Britain, February 14, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/Files

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal wraps "a suicide vest around the British constitution" and hands the detonator to the European Union, former foreign minister Boris Johnson said in comments that drew strong criticism.

 

In an article in the Mail on Sunday newspaper, Johnson pressed his attack on May's so-called Chequers plan to leave the EU, calling it "a humiliation" that opens "ourselves to perpetual political blackmail".

 

May is under fire from all sides of the divisive Brexit debate, with Johnson, favourite to succeed her, leading a push by eurosceptic lawmakers for the government to "chuck Chequers" and pursue a clean break with the bloc.

 

But so far, May has signalled she will not drop her blueprint for Britain's future ties with the bloc after Brexit - the biggest shift in the country's foreign and trade policy for almost half a century.

 

"We have wrapped a suicide vest around the British constitution – and handed the detonator to (EU chief negotiator) Michel Barnier," Johnson wrote.

 

His words - particularly the reference to a suicide vest - drew condemnation from fellow members of the governing Conservative Party.

 

Alan Duncan, a minister at the Foreign Office, said Johnson's comments marked "one of the most disgusting moments in modern British politics".

 

"For Boris to say that the PM's view is like that of a suicide bomber is too much," he said on Twitter. "I'm sorry, but this is the political end of Boris Johnson. If it isn't now, I will make sure it is later."

 

"NOT NEWS"

Johnson resigned as foreign secretary over the Chequers plan, named after May's country residence where the government agreed proposals to maintain close trade ties with the EU in July, and has attacked it as making Britain "a vassal state".

 

The prime minister's plans have also been criticised by EU supporters for offering the "worst of all worlds".

 

Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, said her organisation would back a second vote on Brexit if May failed to win a deal that supported workers.

 

But two ministers batted away Johnson's appeal for Britain to drop Chequers and negotiate a Canada-style trade deal instead, saying such an agreement would not solve the problem of a new border between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland.

 

"It is not news that he has a difference of opinion with the prime minister and that's why he left government," interior minister Sajid Javid told the BBC's Andrew Marr show. "I think there are much better ways to articulate your differences."

 

Housing minister James Brokenshire urged Conservatives to move forward with the Chequers plan, which May has failed so far to win backing from her party, Britain's parliament and also EU negotiators.

 

Many of Johnson's supporters hope his increasingly vocal criticism of May signals that he will launch a leadership bid while other Conservatives suggest his Mail article was solely to distract attention away from his marital difficulties.

 

On Friday, Johnson said he had separated from his wife Marina Wheeler and that the couple would divorce.

 

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-10

[DoctorG]

We can always rely on Boris for a colourful quote. ?

[stephenterry]

Johnson is an egotistical, immoral scumbag. No wonder Trump likes him.

[Tug]

Does sound like trump hoping you guys and gals weather the storm ok blessings tug

[from the home of CC]

it seems to have had the intended effect.

[Bluespunk]

johnson is losing the plot.

[Justgrazing]

Boris being 'erm Boris again .. 

[RuamRudy]

1 hour ago, Bluespunk said:

johnson is losing the plot.

I'm not sure - I think he knows exactly who he wants to get onside. Last month it was burqas, this month suicide vests - the gammons love this rhetoric.

[chezy86]

Why so? He’s actually right in what he says she’s capitulated to the EU with barely a struggle. Best to leave with no deal than a bad deal.

[OneMoreFarang]

The problem with Boris and Trump is not that they are both a#$oles.  The problem is that so many people still support them.

[tomacht8]

Boris has a big mouthpiece. He likes to make a lot of noise. But when it comes to the realization, which is associated with a lot of work, effort and detailed knowledge, then he is a coward and likes to run away.

 

He is just propagandistic. He should better sell to old women at the front door, vacuum cleaners or magazines subscriptions.

Edited September 10, 2018 by tomacht8

[Basil B]

Boris is the 'suicide vest'

[dunroaming]

This is clearly all part of the Boris plan.  He continues to test just how much support he can rely on.  One thing is for sure, Boris (the cricket fan) will never play a straight bat.

 

As for getting May to scrap the Chequers plan?  I think we would all welcome that, it betrays the leavers and remainers alike.

[Enoon]

6 hours ago, Basil B said:

Boris is the 'suicide vest'

 

Being worn by the Conservative Party.

 

Disintegrated Conservative Party is a step closer to no Brexit.

The end of the Conservative Party and no Brexit.

 

And the referendum was only put forward to keep them together.

 

True Tragedy.

 

(But fine by me)

 

 

Edited September 10, 2018 by Enoon

[Morch]

12 hours ago, stephenterry said:

Johnson is an egotistical, immoral scumbag. No wonder Trump likes him.

 

Easy enough to drive a wedge, though. Just set up a "President Erdogan Trump offensive poetry" competition.

 

 

Edited September 10, 2018 by Morch

[Baerboxer]

9 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

johnson is losing the plot.

 

Did he ever have it?

[Baerboxer]

8 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

I'm not sure - I think he knows exactly who he wants to get onside. Last month it was burqas, this month suicide vests - the gammons love this rhetoric.

 

Yep. He knows he appeals to all the loony tunes nutters out there.

[AlexRich]

8 hours ago, chezy86 said:

Why so? He’s actually right in what he says she’s capitulated to the EU with barely a struggle. Best to leave with no deal than a bad deal.

The sad fact is that Johnson couldn’t care less about whether we stay in the EU or not. His only objective is to get the keys to number 10 and he’ll do or say anything, and take any political position that helps him get there. He is amoral and an incompetent ... he failed as Mayor of London and was generally considered by insiders as the most incompetent Foreign Secretary in decades. He is criticising May, yet he is the man who played a major role in getting us into this mess in the first place. He has no clue what to do and offers no plan that he could get past MP’s in Parliament. He is quite simply an opportunist on the make. If the EU have to deal with him they will take great pleasure in screwing him over, and that would be bad for the UK.

 

 

 

[Lokie]

BJs analogy is exactly what she has done, Duncan Smith is gonna ensure what..? An has been who was a nothing IDS lol

 

And North Korea has a military parade yesterday with no long range missiles on show - first time they do this since having them, thank good o'l POTUS for that.

 

Yep Donald and Boris say it how it is - throw in the Grenades and then sit back and watch all the fun... And everyone calls them dum? 555...

[Wake Up]

Very few men in history have been great at making money on currency markets.  I am not one of them. But Brexit was a gift that keeps giving. Even a guy like me can make money over the demise of the pound based on the angry arrogant vote to Brexit. As long as the British are determined to commit arrogant suicide bet against the pound. It will become a currency no one cares about and no one will accumulate. The British are playing a dangerous game and have no leverage and no friends on their side of this suicide mission.   

Edited September 10, 2018 by Wake Up

[vogie]

To quote Ian Hislop, "Boris is an arsonsist who wants to be sacked so he can come back posing as a fireman"

[AlexRich]

1 hour ago, Lokie said:

BJs analogy is exactly what she has done, Duncan Smith is gonna ensure what..? An has been who was a nothing IDS lol

 

And North Korea has a military parade yesterday with no long range missiles on show - first time they do this since having them, thank good o'l POTUS for that.

 

Yep Donald and Boris say it how it is - throw in the Grenades and then sit back and watch all the fun... And everyone calls them dum? 555...

 

It's their followers who I think are dumb. That's dumb, with a b.

[nauseus]

59 minutes ago, Wake Up said:

Very few men in history have been great at making money on currency markets.  I am not one of them. But Brexit was a gift that keeps giving. Even a guy like me can make money over the demise of the pound based on the angry arrogant vote to Brexit. As long as the British are determined to commit arrogant suicide bet against the pound. It will become a currency no one cares about and no one will accumulate. The British are playing a dangerous game and have no leverage and no friends on their side of this suicide mission.   

That seems a tad..... arrogant?