#Boris Johnson: 'In no way are we going to be abandoning our leading role in European co-operation'

UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (pictured) attends his first Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 18 July. An already charged agenda has been added to following recent events in Nice and Turkey. Accused of lying to the British public by French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and of bolting-off to play cricket after the vote by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Johnson is unlikely to receive a warm reception.

At the doorstep Johnson, stated that the UK would give effect to the will of the people and leave the European Union. This statement was rather oddly juxtaposed with his claim that this “would in no sense mean that we are leaving Europe”. To stress this point, he went on to say that: “In no way are we going to be abandoning our leading role in European co-operation and participation of all kinds.” However, it does beg the question of why Johnson threw his support behind the ‘Leave’ campaign.

“In no way are we going to be abandoning our leading role in European co-operation” UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

One Tory party grandee, Nicholas Soames, said that Johnson had told him he was ‘no outer’ i.e. he did not support leaving the EU; he suggested that Johnson’s support for ‘Leave’ was a cynical attempt to position himself as the next Prime Minister once Cameron stood down. This plan backfired; however, he was awarded one of the most prestigious roles in the May government.

It will be interesting to see if his fellow ministers agree that the UK can continue to taking a leading role in foreign affairs. The UK will remain in NATO and will retain its permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Given the role of NATO in the refugee and migrant crisis and a Middle East that has lurched into further instability, the UK could continue to play an important role in supporting EU27 objectives.

Johnson’s lack of diplomacy is well documented; when the EU’s High Representative and Vice-President Federica Mogherini was asked this morning (18 July)  if it would be awkward to welcome someone who said that the EU shares ambitions with Hitler to create a European superstate she replied that she had had a very positive exchange and that she welcomed him into the 'family'.

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