Downing Street slaps down Boris Johnson over ‘suicide vest’ Chequers jibe
3 min read
Downing Street has delivered a withering put down to Boris Johnson’s claims that Theresa May's Brexit plan has left the UK strapped to a "suicide vest".
In the latest sign of increased tension between the Prime Minister and her former Cabinet colleague, Number 10 said they would not give "further oxygen" to his remarks,
Writing in the Mail on Sunday, the former Foreign Secretary said the PM’s plan was a “humiliation”, while “Brussels gets what Brussels wants”.
He said: "We have wrapped a suicide vest around the British constitution - and handed the detonator to Michel Barnier.
"We have given him a jemmy with which Brussels can choose - at any time - to crack apart the Union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland."
His remarks sparked a furious backlash from senior Conservatives, who said he had gone too far in his criticism.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “I think there are much better ways to articulate your differences.
“It’s a reminder for all of us in public policy, whichever party we represent, to use measured language because I think that’s what the public want to see.”
Tory Foreign Affairs Committee chair and ex-soldier Tom Tugendhat suggested Mr Johnson should "grow up".
But a spokesperson for Mrs May said: “This isn't language the Prime Minister would choose to use. I don't plan on giving this article further oxygen.
"The PM’s fully focused on the Brexit negotiations, which are at a very important and intense stage and on delivering on the verdict of the British people.”
The slapdown comes a week after Mrs May's team dismissed another article in which Mr Johnson called on MPs to "chuck Chequers", claiming it contained "no new ideas to respond to".
The spokesman also dismissed suggestions from former Brexit minister that up to 80 Tory MPs could vote against the Prime Minister's plan.
He said: "Chequers is the only plan on the table which will deliver on the will of the British people while avoiding a hard border in Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister is working hard to secure a deal and hopes all MPs will be able to support it.”
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