BORIS Johnson today insisted there would be no more defeatism over Brexit if he becomes PM while saying he believes leaving the EU has been treated like a “plague of boils” by some.
The red hot favourite to become the next Tory leader made his vow came during the latest round of hustings in Nottingham.
1
The party favourite said: “In the last few years we have radiated an air of slight self-doubt, pessimism and defeatism.”
However, he vowed under his leadership things would soon change for the better in Britain.
“Our modern Conservative agenda is not only right for the economy, it’s deeply progressive,” he said.
Mr Johnson then went on to hit out at the cabinet leaks that crippled Theresa May’s leadership – just a fortnight before he hopes to land the top job.
He said: “Let us speak our minds and then don’t leak it. Cabinet was entirely ridiculous.”
However, he refused to be drawn on whether or not he personally supports fox hunting – after his rival Jeremy Hunt suffered a backlash for suggesting he would push a vote on repealing the ban.
“I’m doubtful about the wisdom of escalating this particular issue at this particular juncture,” he said.
He earlier indicated violent or sexual offenders could remain locked up for longer if he becomes PM.
The Tory leadership hopeful said it was wrong that prisoners were routinely let out after serving just half of the sentence handed down in court.
Other developments in the leadership race this week include:
- BOJO backer and former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab blasting the Foreign Secretary as “naive and weak”;
- MR Hunt slamming Boris’s “do or die” Brexit deadline of October 31 as “a false promise” that would see “Jeremy Corbyn end up in Downing Street”;
- DUP chief Arlene Foster all but endorsing Mr Johnson by insisting Britain has to leave by Halloween;
- BANK of England boss Mark Carney backing the plan as credible, if the EU agrees to it;
- JUSTICE Secretary David Gauke threatening to resign if Mr Johnson becomes PM; and
- IRISH PM Leo Varadkar suggesting Boris will tone down his hard Brexit approach when he gets into Downing Street.
Mr Johnson also said Mrs May had been wrong to introduce curbs on the police’s stop and search powers, and said it was important to “change that balance back” in favour of officers.
But while he struck a tough tone on law and order, Mr Johnson hinted to the Daily Mail he could grant an amnesty for long-term illegal migrants.
Setting out his views on sentencing, the former London mayor told the newspaper: “I’m afraid there are too many people, because of the way the sentencing law works, who have committed serious violence or sexual offences who are being let out, as the law prescribes, after they’ve served only half the sentence that is pronounced in open court.
“This is happening. And I’m talking about serious sexual or violent offenders.
“And I think the public is noticing this, quite properly. They don’t think it’s right, and I don’t think it’s right.”
Mr Johnson promised a “relentless focus” on knife crime and criticised the 2014 measures on stop and search brought in by Mrs May.
“When it comes to stop and search, the fact is that we went wrong when we decided to change the rules on the best use of stop and search.
“We made it more difficult. And I think it’s important that we change that balance back.”
Mr Johnson has already pledged to spend £1.1 billion a year funding 20,000 extra police officers as part of his pitch to Tory members to elect him as their leader on July 23.
