Politics

Boris backing: PM’s allies rush to defence after savage attack from Cameron over Brexit


Boris Johnson and David Cameron

In the days when Boris Johnson and David Cameron were friends (Image: Getty)

In it, the former Tory leader attacks both PM Mr Johnson and his Brexit champion Michael Gove. The 52-year-old, who quit as premier hours after Britain voted to leave the EU in 2016, claims Mr Johnson privately said there could be a “fresh renegotiation, followed by a second referendum” – something he now says he opposes. In extracts from Mr Cameron’s forthcoming memoir, he also claimed that Mr Gove and Mr Johnson, as leaders of the Leave campaign, had declared “warfare” on him. 

He went even further, claiming they were also guilty of “lying” to the public to win the 2016 referendum. 

Mr Cameron wrote that Mr Johnson wanted to become the “darling of the party” and “didn’t want to risk allowing someone else with a high profile, Michael Gove, in particular, to win that crown”. 

He writes: “The conclusion I am left with is that he risked an outcome he didn’t believe in because it would help his political career.” 

On Mr Gove, the former PM added: “One quality shone through – disloyalty. Disloyalty to me and, later, disloyalty to Boris.” 

David Cameron

David Cameron walks away after losing the referendum (Image: Getty)

And he said Mr Gove became “an ambassador for the truth-twisting age of populism”. 

He added: “By the end, Boris and Michael seemed to me to be different people. Boris had backed something he didn’t believe in. Michael had backed something he did perhaps believe in, but in the process had broken with his friends… while taking up positions that were completely against his political identity. 

“Both then behaved appallingly, attacking their own government, turning a blind eye to their side’s unpleasant actions and becoming ambassadors for the expert-trashing, truth-twisting age of populism.” 

Other extracts from the book detail how Mr Cameron accused the pair of effectively “trashing” the Government during the 2016 EU referendum campaign. He adds that he is fearful of what will happen after Brexit. 

But colleagues of Mr Johnson rallied behind his handling of the ongoing negotiations with the EU. 

Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay said a “landing zone” was now in sight for an agreement with the EU, and that a “huge amount has been happening behind the scenes”. 

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “The Prime Minister is fully committed to getting a deal. 

“I hope the country has heard [Mr Johnson’s] sheer commitment and determination to ensure that we leave on October 31, and also that the entire machinery of government now is focused on getting that deal and is planning and preparing to leave with a deal.” 

Michael Gove

Michael Gove became ‘an ambassador for the truth-twisting age of populism’ (Image: Getty)

In Mr Cameron’s long-awaited book, For The Record, the ex-PM also writes about his decisions regarding the EU referendum. 

He said: “There are those who will never forgive me for holding it, or for failing to deliver the outcome – Britain staying in a reformed EU – that I sought. 

“I deeply regret the outcome and accept that my approach failed. The decisions I took contributed to that failure. I failed.” 

But on the new Prime Minister’s recent decision to prorogue Parliament for five weeks and withdraw the whip from 21 Tory MPs – including the likes of Tory grandees Ken Clarke and Sir Nicholas Soames – Mr Cameron expressed his disapproval. 

Home Secretary Priti Patel

Home Secretary Priti Patel (Image: Getty)

He added: “Taking the whip from hard-working Conservative MPs and sharp practices using prorogation of Parliament have rebounded. I didn’t support either of those things. Neither do I think a no-deal Brexit is a good idea.” 

The former PM described Mr Johnson as “easy to work with” but admitted that there had been “issues” between the pair. 

Mr Johnson has publicly declared he is not concerned about what his predecessor would write about him. 

He said: “Absolutely nothing that David Cameron says in his memoirs in the course of the next few days will diminish the affection and respect in which I hold him. 

“Not least for what he did in turning this country around after Labour left it bankrupt. I think he has a very distinguished record and a legacy to be proud of.” 



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