Tory Minister calls Boris Johnson the ‘last person on Earth’ who would make progress negotiating with European Union Johnson has severely criticised Theresa May’s management of Brexit since he left the Government in protest over her plans

A Government minister has described Boris Johnson as the “last person on Earth” who could make progress negotiating with the European Union, after the former Foreign Secretary claimed Theresa May could do better than her current Brexit proposals.



Speaking on the BBC’s Politics Live show on Monday, Foreign Office minister Alan Duncan took aim at Mr Johnson after being confronted by comments made by him and the DUP’s Nigel Dodds.

Both Mr Dodds and Mr Johnson claimed the UK should abandon the backstop proposals, an insurance policy aimed at avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, and go back to Brussels to renegotiate a deal.

Responding to the comments, Mr Duncan said: “I respect Nigel Dodds’ opinions very deeply and we obviously appreciate his continuing support for the Government.”



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“But for Boris to say this, I think is total fantasy. I think it is actually accurate for me to say that he is the last person on Earth who would make any progress in negotiating with the EU at the moment.”

Mr Johnson has severely criticised Theresa May’s management of Brexit since he left the Government in protest over her plans and told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday he believed the Prime Minister “can do much, much better” than her current Brexit deal.

The Brexiteer, who has long been touted as a potential challenger to May, added: “Do not underestimate the deep sense of personal responsibility I feel for Brexit and for everything that has happened,” while calling for Theresa May to renegotiate the deal.

Mr Duncan’s appearance on the Politics Live show got off to a difficult start as he was informed that the crucial meaningful vote on the Brexit agreement had been postponed.

Just two minutes into the show, host Jo Coburn announced the news and asked Mr Duncan for immediate comment.

“Is that it?!” @jo_coburn to the initial almost-wordless reaction of Sir Alan Duncan to news of Tuesday’s Brexit vote probably being postponed #politicslive https://t.co/p1LcJ3nNoE pic.twitter.com/aaWH0yWk8f — BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) December 10, 2018

After a long laugh, he said that it could mean Theresa May could have to go back to the negotiating table in Brussels to try and win new concessions that would allow the deal to gain approval from parliament.

Theresa May shelved the so-called meaningful vote that was due to take place on Tuesday. The number of Conservative MPs who had said they would oppose the deal meant she was facing a defeat of historic proportions.

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