Boost for Jeremy Hunt as Boris Johnson supporter switches sides over his Brexit plan
3 min read
An outgoing Tory MEP who had been supporting Boris Johnson to be his party's next leader has announced he is now backing Jeremy Hunt.
Daniel Dalton, who represented the West Midlands until today after he lost his seat in last month’s European elections, said he had been more impressed by Mr Hunt's approach to Brexit.
The Foreign Secretary has vowed to renegotiate the Brexit deal agreed by Theresa May, and left open the possibility of further extending the 31 October deadline if an agreement is in sight.
Mr Johnson, meanwhile, has said that the UK must leave on that date "do or die".
In a final briefing to his constituents, Mr Dalton said: “I started this campaign as a Boris Johnson supporter, and he has many qualities, but having worked in Brussels throughout the Brexit negotiations, I just do not see how his strategy can work, whereas Jeremy Hunt’s might.”
He added: “All Conservatives agree that we have to deliver Brexit before the next general election, but to actually do it will need considerable skill, compromise and flexibility.
“Of the two candidates in front of us, I have gradually come to the conclusion that Jeremy Hunt is the one more likely to do that. I do not say that lightly.”
His comments came as Mr Hunt criticised his rival’s EU exit plan in a speech in Westminster, accusing the former Foreign Secretary of not being “clear with people about the facts”.
In a clear reference to Mr Johnson, he said people “don’t want a showman” and urged his rival to take part in a head-to-head debate with him this week, adding: “It’s time for some mojo from BoJo.”
Directly addressing his fellow leadership candidate’s claim the chances of a no deal are “a million to one”, he said they are real “which is why we must prepare”.
He added: “The point about making no deal a credible threat is that you actually have to prepare for it.”
Mr Hunt also hit out at Mr Johnson's repeated insistence that the UK could use the World Trade Organisation's "GATT 24" rule to maintain frictionless trade with the EU after a no-deal Brexit.
He said: "There is no implementation period without a deal. There is no recourse to GATT 24 without the agreement of the other side.
“You can’t do a trade agreement by yourself!”
Mr Hunt added: “Without the right Prime Minister and the right plan, Brexit is just a wing and a prayer. We can do better.
“Britain needs a Prime Minister for all weathers. One who will work tirelessly to get a deal but will also put in the hard yards preparing for no deal.”
In response to a question on whether he has the “personality and the charisma to be Prime Minister”, he replied: “The answer is that when I talk to people running their own business, to famers, to shopkeepers, to people on the High Street that are worried about the situation we are in now, they don’t want a showman, they don’t want to be entertained.
“They want a Prime Minister who is going to lead this country.”
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