The favorite to the post of British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, apparently wants to blackmail the European Union. He threatens to withhold the agreed exit payments in the billions. He also takes on a recommendation from US President Donald Trump.
According to the British news agency PA, the „Sunday Times“ said Brexit-hardliner Johnson would not pay the £ 39bn (€ 44bn) demanded by Brussels until it had better conditions and „greater clarity“ about it give further action.
„To make a good deal, money is a great solution and a great lubricant.“ He always found it strange to sign the entire check before a final deal was completed.
Trump praise for Johnson
Last week, US President Trump had already advised the British not to pay these debts – and Johnson certifies that he has excellent skills for the office of the head of state and government. In the Brexit negotiations with the EU, London had agreed to settle a final bill of 44 billion euros. Brussels insists that London pay its share for joint financial decisions – on the EU budget, common funds and pension burdens.
Former Secretary of State Johnson is considered the favorite in the race for the succession of outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May. On Friday she had given up leadership of her Conservative Party. She will also be replaced as Head of Government until the end of July. Johnson is regarded as the arch-enemy Mays and was resigned last year in protest against May’s Brexit course as Foreign Minister.
Johnson is not in court
For Johnson, who is also the former mayor of London, there was good news on Friday: he must answer for possibly knowingly false statements before the Brexit referendum but not in court. At the request of his lawyer, the High Court in London rejected a court summons. This removes a hurdle to Johnson’s bid for the post of Prime Minister.
A district judge had decided in late May to hear Johnson on allegations of misconduct in office. She had stated that summoning Johnson to a court hearing was appropriate. After the hearing it was decided whether the case came before a criminal court. Only there can be negotiated about the allegations.
Behind the lawsuit is the businessman Marcus Ball. He accuses the conservative politician to have mislead the public with false information in the referendum in 2016 and the new election of 2017 in the wrong. He accuses Johnson of mistakenly stating that Britain pays £ 350 million a week (just under € 400 million) to the EU. This amount was central to the Brexit Campaign prior to the referendum in 2016, when a narrow majority of Britons voted to leave the European Union.
May’s successor admitted cocaine use
So far, eleven politicians have expressed their interest in the post of head or head of the Conservative Party and thus as prime minister or prime minister. The official application deadline for the candidates ends on Whit Monday.
One of the top candidates for the British Conservative Party Chairmanship, Environment Minister Michael Gove, has admitted the use of cocaine two decades ago. „About 20 years ago, before I got married, I took drugs,“ Gove told the Daily Mail newspaper (Saturday issue). That was the case on several occasions. He regrets that „deeply“. „There was an error.“
Seven admitted cannabis use
He was „a young journalist“ when he took cocaine and at that time he did not mean to go into politics. Looking back now, „I wish I had not done it“. He does not believe, however, that „mistakes made in the past disqualify you,“ added the 51-year-old Torys MP. The decision whether he would become the new party leader lay with his colleagues in parliament and the members of the Conservative Party.
Seven other candidates, including incumbent Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt and ex-Brexit minister Dominic Raab, admitted that they used to smoke cannabis. Minister of International Development Rory Stewart admitted that he smoked opium 15 years ago at a wedding in Iran. He regretted this „stupid mistake“.
Huge tasks after May’s departure
May’s successor succeeds in a difficult task. He or she should be a party and a parliament. May had failed to put Parliament on a common Brexit course. She had failed with her Brexit deal three times in the lower house. Some of the candidates now want to renegotiate the failed agreement with Brussels and in case of doubt also withdraw without a deal. The deadline for leaving the EU has now been extended twice. It ends now on the 31st of October.
Conservatives have been under pressure from the right since the European elections in late May. The new Brexit party of Nigel Farage had made it with almost 32 percent of the votes from the state to the strongest force. The Tories were punished and only came to around nine percent.
