Boris Johnson causes ANOTHER cabinet rift as he tears up government policy and backs EU army
Foreign Secretary said UK's interest was to have close relations with a 'strong EU' and not block further integration
BORIS Johnson has sparked a fresh Cabinet split when he tore up government policy to back an EU Army.
No10 and the MoD have vowed to block a fresh Brussels push to pool states’ defence cash and troops under one command.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has repeatedly warned the move poses a major threat to NATO, and it encourages the US to walk away from Europe just as Russia re-emerges as a serious aggressor.
But yesterday the Foreign Secretary insisted the UK should not stand in the way of other Euro leaders’ ambitions to curry favour for a good Brexit deal.
Delivering his first major speech on the UK’s role in the world, Boris said: “There’s a conversation going on now about the EU’s desire to build a common security and defence policy, and a new architecture for that.
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“If they want to do that, fine.
“We are not there to block or to impede further steps towards EU integration if that is what they desire”.
Mr Johnson also said at the same time, EU members of NATO should “obviously” start meeting their pledges to spend 2% of annual national income on defence.
But Downing Street swiftly distanced Theresa May from his remarks.
And in another slap down, No10 aides also refused to rule out blocking fresh proposals from the EU.
The PM’s official spokesman said: “What we have been clear about is whatever defence and security processes are put in place, they complement NATO and don’t duplicate it.
“NATO is the bedrock of our defence.
“We’ve been clear we don’t agree with a common European defence force.”
Quizzed on if the UK would veto any future bid to build an EU Army, the spokesman would only say: “There aren’t any proposals on the table at the moment”.
The new row followed a difficult week for Boris after he was accused of contradicting two other government policies by privately backing free movement and calling for amnesty for illegal immigrants.