Search icon

News

15th Oct 2016

Boris Johnson penned this secret ‘Remain’ article before backing Brexit

He believed Brexit could lead to an "economic shock"

Ben Kenyon

Boris Johnson was one of the most outspoken and vociferous campaigners for Britain to leave the EU.

The politician became the figurehead for the ‘Leave’ campaign which ultimately won the EU Referendum vote to end the country’s membership of the European Union.

But now a secret article has emerged which Johnson wrote for the Daily Telegraph in which he is said to have argued for Britain to *remain* in the EU.

The Daily Telegraph column was never published and was penned by the former London Mayor just two days before he sensationally came out for the Leave campaign, blindsiding then-PM David Cameron.

Many of his arguments for Britain to remain part of the EU are at odds with his positions on the issue in his new role as Foreign Secretary in Theresa May’s ‘hard Brexit’-chasing Government.

In the article it’s claimed he said he believed Brexit could lead to an “economic shock”, Scottish independence and Russian aggression.

The contents of the supposed column have been published in All Out War, by Sunday Times political editor Tim Shipman, Sky News say.

According to the book he said: “Britain is a great nation, a global force for good. It is surely a boon for the world and for Europe that she should be ­intimately engaged in the EU.”

“This is a market on our doorstep, ready for further exploitation by British firms,” Mr Johnson is also said to have written. “The membership fee seems rather small for all that access. Why are we so determined to turn our back on it?”

Sky News say that Johnson had written the piece on February 19. But previous to this he had written an ‘Out’ column arguing the case to leave the EU – a position which he later settled on.

People on Twitter weren’t too impressed to be honest…

https://twitter.com/tom_rainey88/status/787408049958973441

https://twitter.com/carlboydtweets/status/787407076066721792

https://twitter.com/GAlexBrowning/status/787405389100879872

https://twitter.com/RossMacDonaldW6/status/787404372573560837

https://twitter.com/lhr_tim/status/787406418475384832

Catch up with the latest episode of Football Friday Live