Johnson REBUKES Thornberry declaring this KEY policy will happen OUTSIDE customs union
BORIS JOHNSON hit back at his opposite number Emily Thornberry after the Labour Party politician questioned the content of the Foreign Secretary’s recent Brexit speech.
Boris Johnson blasts Emily Thornberry over Brexit trade policy
Ms Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, accused Mr Johnson of not once seeking to mention how to ensure frictionless trade if Britain leaves the European Union’s customs union.
The Foreign Secretary, last week, presented a rousing and optimistic outline of what lies ahead for post-Brexit Britain, however, Remainers criticised the speech’s actual substance.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Ms Thornberry questioned why his “5,000-word” speech hadn’t considered the Northern Ireland border issue.
There is no reason why we should not be able to exit the customs union while maintaining frictionless trade
The Labour politician said: “It has been pointed out, Mr Speaker, that the Foreign Secretary’s Brexit speech, last week, was 5,000 words long but didn’t once include the words, ‘northern’ and ‘Ireland’.
“This is perhaps the biggest problem the Government needs to answer, and yet the Foreign Secretary didn’t even seek to mention it.
“Could he belated take this opportunity to explain, in simple terms, how is it possible for the UK to diverge from the EU, in terms of regulations, tariffs and other aspects of trade while retaining the current arrangements on the Irish land border.
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“Could he enlighten us, what is the plan?”
Mr Johnson, who used his speech to declare following European Union rules after Brexit would be “intolerable”, hit back at his Labour Party counterpart, insisting frictionless trade is entirely achievable outside of the customs union.
“As the Right Honourable Lady knows, very well, there is no reason whatsoever why we should not be able to exit both the customs union and the single market while maintaining frictionless trade.”
Rebuking the lack of Northern Ireland references, the Foreign Secretary said Britain would not only extend its trading reach between Northern Ireland and the south but also continental Europe.
He said: “Not only between north and south in Northern Ireland but with the rest of continental Europe as well.
“That is exactly what this Government will be spelling out in the course of the coming negotiations.”