Boris Johnson warns hardline Eurosceptics to ‘lay off’ Theresa May as she ‘needs time’ to sort Brexit deal

BORIS Johnson told hardline Eurosceptics to lay off Theresa May – and give her the “time and space” to deliver her Brexit deal.

In a startling u-turn, outspoken Foreign Secretary urged Leave MPs furious over a new ‘backstop plan’ to hold their nerve.

Boris’s appeal for restraint comes just a fortnight after he branded the PM’s customs partnership plan “crazy” in an attack some viewed as a threat to No10 to sack him.

And he said he was convinced the PM would be “true to her promises” and deliver a post-Brexit agreement that gave Britain a bumper deal with the EU - and “unhindered” ability to strike trade agreements with the rest of the world.

A new ‘backstop’ plan would see Britain tied to aspects of the EU’s customs union well into 2021 if the PM fails to strike a full trade deal with the EU.

Eurosceptics claim this could see Britain tied to Brussels indefinitely.

Mr Johnson declined repeatedly to be drawn for his views on the backstop.

Instead the Foreign Secretary said the Government had to put its efforts into getting an agreement with Brussels so it wouldn’t be needed.

He said: “Brexiteers fearing betrayal over the customs backstop must understand that the PM has been very clear that neither option is an outcome we desire - we want a deal with the EU and she will deliver it.

“I’m convinced that the Prime Minister will be true to her promises of a Brexit deal - that sees Britain will come out of the CU and SM, have borders as frictionless as possible, reject ECJ interference, controls immigration and free to conduct unhindered free trade deals across the world.

“We must now give the Prime Minister time and space to negotiate this Brexit vision.”

Mr Johnson, who toured the Amazon rainforest in Peru on Saturday, said he had been “bowled over by the optimism and excitement” over Brexit from the two nations’ leaders.

Later this week he will visit Chile, which has more free trade deals than any other country in the world.

He added: “Make no mistake, we will be ready to take advantage of these opportunities when we leave the EU.”

British goods currently make up just 1 per cent of South America’s imports, which Mr Johnson described as “absolutely woeful”.

He blasted past governments for failing to invest enough “time, energy or presence” in Latin America and declared: “It’s time to rekindle those relations and rectify this huge historical error”.

Mr Johnson is due to meet fellow foreign ministers at a G20 summit in Buenos Aires on Monday.

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