Boris Johnson is 'completely out of the loop' on Brexit, says EU Commissioner

Boris Johnson is “completely out of the loop” on Brexit and "behaving strangely", a senior EU official has said.

Phil Hogan, the Agriculture Commissioner, warned the Foreign Secretary had become a “diminished figure” in Westminster. 

He said Mr Johnson's recent remarks on Brexit had been "completely contradictory" and "completely at odds" with the position of the British Government. 

In an interview with the London Evening Standard, he said: “Clearly, he is not directly involved in the negotiations on behalf of the British Government with the EU.

“He certainly has made very strange statements that are completely contradictory, and completely at odds with his own Government’s position as well as the possibility of being reasonable with the EU in finalising a deal.

“So it strikes me that he is completely out of the loop in relation to the type of concrete proposals that are required and that are being considered by the UK Government.

“Mr Johnson is behaving and acting and speaking strangely. It’s clear that his reputation is not good and he is a diminished figure in the Government.”

It comes after Mr Hogan suggested that Britain cannot take for granted that the European Union will agree to a transition period. 

Amid a furious row over customs arrangements, the Republic's EU commissioner, said that Ireland could be the "biggest victim of this mess" and accused the UK of "high-level delusion".

It comes after Mr Johnson set out his Brexit blueprint in a 4,000 word article in The Telegraph. 

He said Britain should not pay for access to European markets and must seize the opportunity to reform the tax system to encourage investment.

Mr Johnson also set out criticised claim Brexit could boost NHS coffers by £350 million a week.