Boris Johnson brands the PM’s Brexit plan ‘deranged’ in fresh attack as explosive Tory conference kicks off while she accuses him of ‘playing politics’
- Potentially tumultuous Conservative conference is kicking off in Birmingham
- Theresa May is facing massive pressure over her Chequers plan for ties with EU
- Boris Johnson has upped leadership ante by branding the proposals ‘deranged’
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Theresa May and Boris Johnson exchanged furious blows today as a tumultuous Tory conference kicked off.
The former foreign secretary launched another vicious attack on the PM’s Chequers plan for Brexit – branding it ‘deranged’ and ‘preposterous’.
In one bruising jibe, Mr Johnson pointed out that she was a Remainer during the referendum two years ago – and he urged the government to back ambitious projects like building a bridge between Northern Ireland and Scotland.
But a defiant Mrs May shot back that her critics were ‘playing politics’ and insisted she is still confident of getting a deal with the EU.
The bitter clashes came as Conservatives gathered in Birmingham for a conference that is set to be dominated by Brexit and questions about Mrs May’s future.
The premier is facing a desperate struggle to hang on amid grass roots fury about her ‘soft’ approach to cutting ties with the EU, and jostling by leadership rivals.
A defiant Therssa May (pictured arriving at conference last night) shot back that her critics were ‘playing politics’ and insisted she is still confident of getting a deal with the EU
Mr Johnson (file picture) ensured the focus is still on his own leadership ambitions, using an interview with the Sunday Times to swipe: ‘Unlike the Prime Minister, I campaigned for Brexit.’
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Foreign buyers will be charged higher stamp duty when they… Michael Gove says Theresa May is open to Boris Johnson’s…
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In a bid to show her government is about more than negotiations with the EU, the PM has set out plans to crack down on foreigners buying homes and proposals for a nationwide festival in 2022 – the year of the next scheduled general election.
But Mr Johnson ensured the focus is still on his own leadership credentials, using an interview with the Sunday Times to swipe: ‘Unlike the Prime Minister, I campaigned for Brexit.’
Mr Johnson – who is only coming to Birmingham for one fringe event on Tuesday – branded Mrs May’s Chequers plan ‘entirely preposterous’.
PM presents Scots Tory leader Ruth Davidson with gifts for baby
Theresa May presented Ruth Davidson with gifts for her baby, which is due in weeks
Theresa May presented pregnant Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson with a Downing Street baby grow last night.
Mrs May and Ms Davidson met to discuss Brexit and other key issues after arriving at the party’s conference in Birmingham.
But despite the high-stakes battle going on with Eurosceptics and the EU, the PM had found time to stock up on some gifts.
Ms Davidson is less than five weeks away from giving birth to her first child, and has joked that she is the size of a ‘naval frigate’.
She tweeted a video of herself with Mrs May after being handed a No10 branded baby grow, teddy bear and a copy the PM’s favourite book, Swallows and Amazons.
The book, written in the 1930s, involves two competiting child families playing on an island in the Lake District.
Ms Davidson said: ‘Had a pre #CPC18 meeting with @Theresa_May to discuss all things conference/Brexit/budget.
‘Didn’t expect to be surprised with a gift for the wee one at the end (including the PM’s favourite book, Swallows & Amazons, for when they’re older).’
The blueprint would involve the UK effectively staying in the single market for goods, and collecting some tax on behalf of the EU. Mrs May says it is the only way of keeping smooth trade and ensuring there is no hard Irish border.
But Brexiteers are demanding a looser Canada-style arrangement that would make it easier to strike trade deals elsewhere in the world.
Suggesting he may be able to strike a better deal than Mrs May, he told the newspaper: ‘Unlike the Prime Minister, I fought for this, I believe in it, I think it’s the right thing for our country and I think that what is happening now is, alas, not what people were promised in 2016.’
Setting out an alternative policy platform as the Conservative Party conference began in Birmingham, the former cabinet minister said the UK should build a bridge to Ireland and put the HS2 rail line on hold to focus on a high-speed link in the north of England.
And he urged a more ‘Tory’ domestic platform to combat the threat from left-wing Labour under Jeremy Corbyn.
‘I think we need to make the case for markets,’ he said.
‘I don’t think we should caper insincerely on socialist territory. You can’t beat Corbyn by becoming Corbyn.’
But Mrs May used her own interview with the Sunday Times to insist she is going nowhere.
Signalling that she intended to remain in Number 10 for years to come, she said: ‘There’s a long-term job to do.’
She added: ‘It’s not just about Brexit, it’s about the domestic agenda as well.
‘I think we’re at a very important and historic moment for the UK. There are real opportunities for the UK outside the European Union.’
Setting out her plans for a festival in post-Brexit Britain, she said: ‘We want to showcase what makes our country great today.
‘We want to capture that spirit for a new generation, celebrate our nation’s diversity and talent, and mark this moment of national renewal with a once-in-a-generation celebration.’
Mrs May also told the Sun on Sunday that she was ‘not bluffing’ when she said ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’ when it comes to leaving the EU.
‘I believe that we can get a deal,’ she added. ‘I believe we can get a good deal and that’s what we are working for. But nobody should be in any doubt.’
Mrs May took aim at Tories such as Mr Johnson stirring up the situation, saying they needed to ‘put the country first’.
‘My message to the Conservative Party is going to be that people voted to leave the EU,’ she said.
‘I believe it’s a matter of trust in politicians that we deliver on that vote for people. We’re the party that always puts country first and puts the national interest first. And that’s what I want us to be doing.
Mrs May arrived at what could be a tumultuous conference yesterday with her husband Philip
Hackers also replaced Michael Gove’s image with that of Rupert Murdoch and were able to harvest Boris Johnson’s personal information too
‘The only proposal on the table at the moment that delivers that is the Chequers plan.’
Under her plans, people and businesses who do not pay tax in Britain will face a surcharge of between 1 per cent and 3 per cent when they buy a property, with the money funding measures to tackle rough sleeping, the newspaper said.
The conference got off to a rough start yesterday when an embarrassing security gaffe in the official app allowed access to the contact details of Cabinet ministers and senior MPs.
Tory chairman Brandon Lewis apologised for the breach of security and the UK’s data watchdog said it would make enquiries about the case.
Activists and journalists heading to the conference discovered the major security problem in the official app which many use to keep track of events.
Mr Lewis said the ‘technical issue’ had been resolved but ‘we are investigating the issue further and apologise for any concern caused’.
The Information Commissioner’s Office said it would be ‘making enquiries with the Conservative Party’ and ‘organisations have a legal duty to keep personal data safe and secure’.
The profiles of former foreign secretary Mr Johnson and Environment Secretary Michael Gove were among those reportedly accessed.
How does Theresa May’s Chequers deal compare with a Canada-style free trade deal?
CHEQUERS
Trade:
Britain would stick to EU rules on goods by adopting a ‘Common rulebook’ with Brussels, but in the services sector.
Theresa May says this would allow the UK strike free trade deals globally, but the scope would be limited by commitments to the EU.
The blueprint should minimise the need for extra checks at the borders – protecting the ‘just in time’ systems used by the car industry to import and export parts.
The UK Parliament could choose to diverge from these EU rules over time.
But there is an admission that this would ‘have consequences’.
Customs:
Britain would set up something called a Facilitated Customs Arrangement.
This would see the UK effectively act as the EU’s taxman – using British officials to collect customs which would then be paid on to the bloc.
The borders between the UK and EU will be treated as a ‘combined customs territory’.
The UK would apply domestic tariffs and trade policies for goods intended for the UK, but charge EU tariffs and their equivalents for goods which will end up heading into the EU.
Northern Ireland:
Mrs May says her plan will prevent a hard Irish border, and mean no divergence between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain.
There would be no need for extra border checks, as tariffs on goods would be the same.
Single market origin rules and regulations would also be sufficiently aligned to avoid infrastructure.
CANADA-STYLE
Trade:
Britain would strike a Canada-style free trade deal with the EU, meaning goods can flow both ways without tariffs.
As it is a simple free trade deal, Britain would not be bound by the rules and red tape drawn up in Brussels.
The arrangement would be a relatively clean break from the EU – but would fall far short of full access to the single market.
Eurosceptics have suggested ‘Canada plus’ in key areas such as services and mutual recognition of standards.
The UK would have broad scope to strike free trade deals around the world.
Customs:
Technology would be used to avoid extra customs checks on the borders.
As a result goods travelling into the UK from the EU and vice versa would be tracked and customs paid without extra checks.
The EU has suggested this is ‘magical thinking’.
Northern Ireland:
The EU says the Canada model would mean border controls are required between Northern Ireland and the Republic to protect the single market and customs union.
It insists Northern Ireland must stay in the bloc’s customs jurisdiction in order to prevent that.
Mrs May has signalled she agrees with the analysis – seemingly the reason she is reluctant to go down this route.
But Brexiteers point out that there is already a tax border between the UK and Ireland, and say technology and trusted trader schemes can avoid the need for more infrastructure.
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