ADVERTISEMENT

Boris Johnson Calls Chequers Brexit Plan 'Deranged'

Boris Johnson Calls Chequers Brexit Plan 'Deranged'

(Bloomberg) -- Former U.K. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson questioned whether Prime Minister Theresa May believes in Brexit and called her Chequers plan "deranged," the Sunday Times reported, citing an interview.

Boris Johnson Calls Chequers Brexit Plan 'Deranged'

He argued the government should stop trying to copy Jeremy Corbyn if it wants to defeat the Labor Party.

"Unlike the prime minister I campaigned for Brexit," he said. "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."

Johnson sharpened his knife further. "We need to make the case for markets," he said. "I don’t think we should caper insincerely on socialist territory."

May, who was also interviewed by the Sunday Times, said those who refused to back her Chequers plan were “playing politics” and undermining the national interest. She also announced that foreign buyers will face a higher tax on buying homes, known as stamp duty, in an attempt to stop them driving up house prices.

Earlier, Sky News reported that planning for the Conservative Party conference was thrown into disarray after the official app allowed anyone to access and change the details of attendees, including members of the government. According to the Telegraph, images were posted on Twitter showed users logging in as Johnson.

Read: Why another debacle for May could be a disaster.
Read: Why Ireland’s Border Is Brexit’s Intractable Puzzle: QuickTake

To contact the reporter on this story: Nathan Crooks in Miami at ncrooks@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Clementine Fletcher at cfletcher5@bloomberg.net, James Ludden

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.