Boris Johnson has proposed a vision for the future of the UK outside the European Union that is “intellectually impossible”, a leading European finance minister has said.
In an interview with Czech newspaper Hospodarske Noviny,the foreign secretary described the fundamental right of free movement of people within the EU as “bullshit” and said the UK planned to leave the EU customs union but maintain access to the EU’s single market.
However, such an option does not exist and the EU would not offer a post-Brexit UK such favourable terms, according to Dutch finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem.
Johnson and other Brexiteers continue to mislead the public about the possibility of future relations with the EU and other trading partners after Brexit. He is considered a leader in “post-truth” politics.
The EU’s position has remained consistent throughout, that the UK would not receive preferential treatment if it leaves the EU and any future trade deal would need to be negotiated once Article 50 is triggered.
Beyond Europe, Brexiteers have claimed that the UK could make free trade deals with the US and India after leaving the EU. However, Theresa May’s recent trip to India brought little support for such claims and the election of Donald Trump heralds a new era of US protectionism and a move away from free trade.
