Seven ways Boris Johnson’s Brexit speech totally missed the point
Hypocritical, fact-free and contradictory, the Foreign Secretary's speech signified anything but a shift on the Leave side.
‘Betrayal’: that’s the word Boris Johnson used this morning to describe attempts to stop Brexit. It has been met with near-universal derision.
The Foreign Secretary used a keynote speech to supposedly outline a ‘vision’ for post-Brexit Britain – and ward off attempts to give the public a fresh say.
Here’s just a sample of what he said:
“I fear that some people are becoming ever more determined to stop Brexit, to reverse the referendum vote of June 23 2016…I believe that would be a disastrous mistake that would lead to permanent and ineradicable feelings of betrayal. We cannot and will not let it happen.”
Commentators were quick to spot the glaring errors and gaps in his speech.
1. Johnson talked about betrayal. Let’s break that down for a start.
Boris Johnson, the man who promised £350m extra per week for the NHS if the UK voted to Leave in 2016 then voted against it in 2017, is lecturing the country on the perils of ‘betrayal’ in 2018 whilst a member of a cabinet presiding over an NHS crisis. You couldn’t make it up pic.twitter.com/ajgSP1W7l9
— Chuka Umunna (@ChukaUmunna) February 13, 2018
2. He denies Brexit has provoked an ‘insular’ mentality. Yet the very campaign he backed was founded on closing off our borders and shutting ourselves off.
Reminded of this poster when Boris Johnson denies that Brexiteers promote an “insular” mentality. pic.twitter.com/pFq3lpzdPc
— George Eaton (@georgeeaton) February 14, 2018
3. From the get-go – what is this speech for? It’s hard to see it as anything other than either cover for his own Cabinet battles, or grandstanding to boost his leadership potential. Either way, his calls for ‘unity’ and reaching out to Remainers ring hollow.
No one in the real world – really, not a single person – gives a monkeys about Boris Johnson’s speech. The fact the national media often thought it could map politics by speeches (e.g leaders’ conference ones) is one reason they didn’t see Brexit coming.
— John Harris (@johnharris1969) February 14, 2018
4. It conveniently ignored the hard facts…
Boris Johnson: “There is no sensible reason why we would not continue to retire to countries like Spain.”
THAT IS A FREE MOVEMENT PERK! It would require a visa post Brexit!— Femi (@Femi_Sorry) February 14, 2018
5. He is a sore winner.
This speech by Boris Johnson is bizarre, even for him. And slightly passive-aggressive – claiming he’s reaching out to remainers while repeating that he’s been abused in the street by them…
— Jane Merrick (@janemerrick23) February 14, 2018
6. It’s entire raison d’etre was flawed.
The problem with a “liberal Brexit” is that most liberals don’t want Brexit and most Brexiteers aren’t liberal: https://t.co/VVybrqM0Qu
— Stephen Bush (@stephenkb) February 14, 2018
7. For a speech from an egotist, it was totally lacking in self-awareness…
Boris Johnson today: ‘I think I have always been extremely moderate in my language and loving and caring.’
Boris Johnson before: pic.twitter.com/skjSRt7bhL
— Open Britain (@Open_Britain) February 14, 2018
Hypocritical, fact-free and contradictory, Johnson’s speech signified the very opposite of a grand shift on the Leave side.
This was Leave to a tee – riddled with misleading claims and – ironically for a successful campaign – bitterness.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to enjoy the rest of my Valentine’s Day without any more of that.
Josiah Mortimer is Editor of Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter.
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