Boris Johnson demands Britain show Putin what democracy really is by leaving the EU on October 31 no matter what
BRITAIN must leave the EU on October 31 no matter what happens to show Putin what democracy really is, Boris Johnson has demanded.
In a blast at the Russian leader, the frontrunner to become PM hit out at the country's corruption, poverty and lack of accountability.
Writing in the today he insisted: "When Vladimir Putin says that liberalism is obsolete, he is talking the most tremendous tripe."
And he took a swipe at Russia for having too much power in the hands of "oligarchs and cronies" and where 12 per cent of the population still has to rely on an outdoor toilet.
The news comes as:
- Health secretary Matt Hancock promised Boris would give public sector workers a "fair" pay rise and show them "some love"
- But BoJo was left red-faced after forgetting what the minimum wage was
- The bookies’ odds-on favourite for the top job also sparked a Tory civil war by pledging he would increase borrowing to find the money to invest in Britain’s infrastructure.
- Rival Jeremy Hunt pledged £6million to help farmers and fishermen cope with a No Deal Brexit
Boris insisted the EU has begun to "seriously undermine that fundamental characteristic of a liberal democracy" by being unable to kick out unelected politicians.
Various treaties have "centralised power in Brussels in a way that is understood by a tiny minority - who can always be sure of knocking on the right door in the Berlaymont, or paying someone to do so on their behalf - but which is wholly opaque to the broad mass of the public," Boris blasted.
"That was one of the reasons why people voted to leave, and that is why it is so essential that we get on with it now and carry out that mandate by October 31."
He warned that October 31 might end up not being a "hard" deadline at all - kicking the can further on and risking the EU demands "another referendum before we have delivered the first".
"We will make a mockery of democracy. We will look like any other oligarchy or monarchy," Boris added.
Earlier today one of his top backers, Matt Hancock, warned that "no deadline risks no Brexit and slip sliding towards a second referendum".
He added: "Boris is best placed to leave with a deal because he's prepared to be absolutely clear about having a deadline."
Yesterday rival Mr Hunt was blasted for failing to promise we would leave the EU by the end of the year.
Challenged by the BBC’s Andrew Marr he said: “I would do it with a heavy heart. We are a country where politicians do what the people tell them to do.
“So if in order to do what the people tell us to do, we have to leave without a deal, I would do that. But I would find support for those companies to help them weather the storms.”
Britain is scheduled to quit the bloc on October 31 but Mrs May has failed to do so twice already with two other deadlines.
Yesterday Boris Johnson stuck to his end of October deadline.
And he said he felt a “personal responsibility” for delivering Brexit after his high profile campaign to Leave. “I played a part in that campaign. I take personal responsibility now for what is happening to our country, for the drift and the dither and the indecision, and the failure to be sufficiently robust in the negotiations which we’ve seen so far.
“I want to lead us out of this mess.”
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Today Boris will visit activists in Kent followed by a telephone town hall debate this evening.
Mr Hunt has a major speech planned on how he would leave with No Deal if he had to.
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