Boris Johnson to Warn U.K. Against Reversing Brexit
14, 2018
Britain’s Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, was expected to argue on Wednesday
that Britain’s looming departure from the European Union provides grounds not for "fear but hope," and to warn critics that efforts to reverse the process would be a "disastrous mistake." One of the main campaigners for withdrawal, known as Brexit, in a referendum in 2016, Mr. Johnson is now a proponent of a clean break with the bloc.
In more conciliatory language, Mr. Johnson was expected to try to reassure those who have continuing — or growing — doubts about the policy
that "Brexit is not grounds for fear but hope." "It is not good enough to say to Remainers — you lost, get over it; because we must accept that many are actuated by entirely noble sentiments, a real sense of solidarity with our European neighbors and a desire for the U.K. to succeed," he was expected to say.
"It is only by taking back control of our laws that U.K. firms and entrepreneurs will have the freedom to innovate, without the risk of having to comply with some directive devised by Brussels, at the urgings of some lobby group, with the aim of holding back a U.K. competitor." "That would be intolerable, undemocratic and would make it all
but impossible for us to do serious free trade deals," he added.
Writing in the Sun newspaper, he pushed back against those — including some fellow Conservative lawmakers
and members of the cabinet — who want to remain close to European Union’s customs union and single market after Brexit.
"I fear that some people are becoming ever more determined to stop Brexit, to reverse the referendum vote of June 23, 2016,
and to frustrate the will of the people,"’ Mr. Johnson was expected to say.
" he wrote. that To those who worry about coming out of the customs union or the single market, please bear in mind
that the economic benefits of membership are nothing like as conspicuous or irrefutable as is sometimes claimed,