Boris Johnson rips into Theresa May in pitch for Tory crown – as Cabinet No Deal mutiny explodes
BORIS Johnson has ripped into Theresa May today as he kickstarts his leadership bid to become Prime Minister.
The Brexiteer used a barnstorming speech this morning to rally the country in favour of leaving with a clean break following Theresa May's defeat earlier this week.
But he said there should be one final push to Brussels first to demand they scrap the hated Northern Irish backstop now - or we WILL walk away.
The Brexiteer blasted the PM for not even asking the EU to ditch it, saying she needed to "mean it this time" when she went back to them.
And he attacked her agreement for bending to Brussels' rules and tying us to them by the "apron strings".
In a speech putting him front and centre of the leadership battle to come, he also vowed not to raise new taxes and promised to spend more money on public services to bring Britain back together again.
His major intervention came just minutes after Tory Brexiteer Penny Mordaunt launched a fightback against Remainers in the Cabinet urging the PM to go for a softer Brexit.
The International Development Secretary defended leaving with No Deal and said that not honouring the result of the referendum would be "appalling".
She even said the upsides of leaving "outweigh" the downsides of staying - after a Question Time audience last night cheered the prospect of No Deal.
As Mrs May spends another day trying to work out what to do with Brexit:
- Whitehall chiefs are on alert for another election within weeks
- Jeremy Corbyn faces the threat of resignations from his top team if he u-turns and backs a second Brexit vote
- The PM spoke with Angela Merkel earlier and will hold further talks with MPs and leaders over the weekend
Boris said this morning that there would be "challenges" of leaving without an agreement in place on March 29.
But he said that everyone in Britain knows "we are more than up to it".
"We have got so far, we must not give up now," he vowed, urging the PM to go back one final time to demand changes, strengthened after MPs rejected her deal overwhelmingly.
"If we hold our nerve we will not deliver this fake Brexit, but the Brexit people voted for.
"If we mean it, if we are determined, and if we make it clear that this is our best and final offer, I would be amazed if we cannot get agreement on these terms."
A poll of Sun readers last night showed that half of them want No Deal.
We've come so far, we must not give up now
Boris Johnson
Boris said it would be "shameful" to extend Article 50 and push Brexit day back as dozens of MPs are demanding.
"To extend Article 50 now would do nothing but erode trust in politics," he warned.
"It's overwhelmingly likely that we will get a deal, we will get a good deal, but we won't leave with this deal."
In a thinly veiled leadership pitch today Boris said leaving the EU was a chance to finally unite the country.
And in a bid to woo over Tory members who could vote him to be the next party leader and Prime Minister, he promised to introduce no new taxes.
The Tory heavyweight said: "This is not because we want to create a tax haven for the rich.
"But because that is the way to stimulate the income we need to pay for this national programme of cohesion."
Boris promises no new taxes to win over Tory members
In a speech today at the HQ of JCB in Rocester, he also promised a spending spree on public services, local hospitals, transport and housing.
He said: “If you look at the distribution of the Brexit vote, it is clear that people felt that gap in attainments and prospects and that they wanted something done.
"If we are to bring our nation together that means investing in great public services and safer streets, better hospitals, better transport links and better housing."
But even before he'd got up to speak, Boris was slammed by his former colleague in the foreign office, Sir Alan Duncan.
He blasted: "You are not equipped to unite the Party you have so recklessly divided."
Meanwhile, the Cabinet war over what to do next with Brexit spilled out into the open today.
After Penny's intervention, Remainer Amber Rudd retweeted a message from the business group the CBI saying it was "worth remembering" that firms are deeply concerned Britain is getting closer to No Deal.
Fellow Remainer, Business Secretary David Gauke, went on to re-tweet her post.
How will this all end? Brexit outcomes explained
GOING SOFT
A cross-party group of MPs are frantically pushing an alternative Soft Brexit plan which could replace Mrs May's deal.
It would be welcomed by big business - but Brexit voters would be unhappy because it would mean Britain accepting open borders, and following European rules without a say.
HOW LIKELY? 3/5
HARD AS NAILS
Most of the Tory Brexiteers who oppose the PM's deal want her to return to Brussels and strike a tougher line.
But Eurocrats currently insist it's impossible to re-open negotiations.
HOW LIKELY? 2/5
REFERENDUM RE-RUN
Dozens of MPs are hell-bent on forcing Mrs May to hold a second referendum so Britain can stay in the EU.
Yet without the support of the Government it's unlikely the second vote could become a reality.
HOW LIKELY? 3/5
DEAL OR NO DEAL?
If Mrs May cannot pass a deal, the legal default is that we will leave the EU without a deal on March 29.
Despite the legal position, the majority of MPs insist they will take any measure necessary to rule out No Deal.
HOW LIKELY? 4/5
MAY TRIUMPHS - EVENTUALLY
Cabinet ministers remain adamant that a version of Theresa May's plan will eventually pass the Commons, even after losing last night.
They believe sceptical MPs will lose their nerve as Brexit Day approaches - terrified of either No Deal or a second referendum.
HOW LIKELY? 3/5
Boris' speech comes just days after leadership contender Dominic Raab – the ex-Brexit Secretary – laid out his own vision for Brexit Britain.
The Tory called for a rise in the National Insurance earnings threshold and a gradual reduction in the basic rate of income tax.
His speech was attended by Sir Graham Brady, the influential chair of the 1922 backbench committee. Allies of Boris Johnson worry that his ‘hard-Brexit’ stance will hamper his chances in any leadership election.
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