By James Simons-
Boris Johnson published a pro EU column this year, warning of economic shocks resulting from Brexit, the BBC have revealed. In In the article, the Foreign Secretary said the UK remaining in the EU would be a “boon for the world and for Europe”.
Johnson wrote the column in February, along with a pro-Brexit article that was later published by Sunday Telegraph. The former Mayor of London expressed plenty of skepticism about the EU.
The Sunday Times has today published the pro-Remain column Johnson wrote earlier in the year. Interestingly, Johnson predicted that Brexit could lead to an economic shock, Scottish independence, and Russian aggression.
CLARIFICATION
The Sunday Times reports that Johnson first wrote an article arguing the case to leave the EU, before later writing the ‘Remain’ piece “as a way of clarifying his thoughts”, before . He eventually returned to an article supporting Brexit, in a shocking departure from his original position.
‘Economic shock’
Mr Johnson has long reversed his position on the prospect of economic shocks, recently insisting that the UK can get a trade deal that is “of greater value” to the economy than access to the EU single market- an “increasingly useless” concept, according to Johnson.
But in the pro-EU article, the then Mayor of London supported membership of the free trade zone. Sunday Times political editor, Tim Shipman quotes Johnson in a book he wrote entitled ”all out war”, as saying:
“This is a market on our doorstep, ready for further exploitation by British firms,” Mr Johnson wrote.
“The membership fee seems rather small for all that access.
“Why are we so determined to turn our back on it?”
WARNED
Boris warned that Brexit would cause an “economic shock” and could lead to the “break up” of the UK.
He wrote: “There are some big questions that the “out” side need to answer.
“Almost everyone expects there to be some sort of economic shock as a result of a Brexit.
“How big would it be? I am sure that the doomsters are exaggerating the fallout – but are they completely wrong? And how can we know?”
SHOCKING
This revelation is shocking enough to lead to valid questions as to whether Johnson really believed Britain was better off outside the EU.He certainly was very concerned about leaving the EU at one point, was sparked a change of heart? Some commentators have speculated that Johnson’s sole reason to support the Brexit campaign was to increase his chances of succeeding David Cameron as prime minister.Johnson came very close to pulling it off but fell at the last minute into the hands back- stabbers in his own party.
Since the vote to leave the EU the pound has fallen to its lowest for 31 years., losing around 18% of its value against the US dollar, while Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has put in place plans for a second independence referendum if the UK leaves the single market.
CONTRADICTION
Mr Shipman said Mr Johnson’s column contradicted positions he had adopted since joining the cabinet following Theresa May’s appointment as prime minister. However, Shipman said it also
“dispels the myth that Johnson’s case for remain was better than his argument to leave”.
“In fact, the article was dashed off quickly and seems to be an attempt by Johnson to convince himself the case for staying in was weak,” Mr Shipman added.
In fairness, Boris might not have been convincing himself that the case for staying was weaker, he may have actually changed his mind on this and believed Brexit was the better option. His crime was to then downplay his original view that economic shocks will follow a Brexit outcome, by actually claiming that economic shocks will not result from Brexit.