Jump directly to the content
Exclusive
'WE'LL HAVE OUR CAKE AND EAT IT'

Boris Johnson joins forces with Liam Fox and declares support for ‘hard’ Brexit which will ‘liberate’ Britain to champion free trade

Bojo tells The Sun we will get immigration controls back as well as continuing open trade with EU

BORIS Johnson has declared his support for a hard Brexit by saying he wants the UK’s exit deal to “liberate us to champion free trade”.

The Foreign Secretary allies himself today with International Trade Secretary Liam Fox to suggest he too is in favour of a clean break from the EU’s single market and customs union to broker our own new trade deals.

 Double act... Boris Johnson has joined forces with International Trade Secretary Liam Fox to declare he is in favour of a clean break from the EU’s single market
3
Double act... Boris Johnson has joined forces with International Trade Secretary Liam Fox to declare he is in favour of a clean break from the EU’s single marketCredit: PA:Press Association Wire

He revealed his views to The Sun in his first newspaper interview since arriving at the Foreign Office ahead of the Tories’ annual conference tomorrow.

Quizzed on what sort of exit deal he wanted to see, Mr Johnson said: “I am confident that we can get a deal that is exhilarating for this country, that is a massive opportunity and that liberates us to champion free trade round the world.

“To make Britain once again to be the great motor of free trade.”

 Have our cake and eat it... Boris insists we will get immigration controls back as well as continuing open trade with the EU
3
Have our cake and eat it... Boris insists we will get immigration controls back as well as continuing open trade with the EUCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

But on the phrase ‘hard Brexit’ itself, Boris insisted: “I don’t recognise this term.

“We are going to have a deal that works.”

He also insisted we will get immigration controls back as well as continuing open trade with the EU.

Mr Johnson told The Sun: "Our policy is having our cake and eating it.

“We are Pro-secco but by no means anti-pasto”.

Half way through the interview with The Sun, he also sang a Bob Marley to describe his tense relationship with the two other Brexiteer Cabinet ministers

Asked about his relationship with Brexit Secretary David Davis and Mr Fox, Boris replied: “We are a nest of singing birds.

“In fact I think Bob Marley once wrote a song which goes, ‘Woke up this morning, smiled with the rising sun, three little birds on my doorstep singing sweet songs.

“A melody pure and true.

“This is my message for you.

“Don’t you worry about a thing cos every little thing is gonna be all right.’”

 Three Little Birds... Boris sang Bob Marley to describe his tense relationship with David Davis, right, and Liam Fox
3
Three Little Birds... Boris sang Bob Marley to describe his tense relationship with David Davis, right, and Liam FoxCredit: Getty

But he ducked giving any guarantee that his headline Vote Leave campaign offers during the EU referendum campaign would come into force.

Boris refused to commit to fully ending all UK contributions to the Brussels budget every year.

And he shrugged off his campaign commitment to slash VAT from struggling Brits’ energy bills as “a decision for a future cabinet”, but added: “It’s still a good idea. Tick”.

Topics