Top EU official in scathing attack at 'out of the loop' Boris Johnson

A leading European official today launched a scathing attack on Boris Johnson as “completely out of the loop” on Brexit and a “diminished figure” in the Government.

In an exclusive interview with the Evening Standard, agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan warned that the “signs will not be good” for future EU relations if Theresa May is as “vague” as her Foreign Secretary on key questions such as the Irish border.

“Clearly, he is not directly involved in the negotiations on behalf of the British Government with the EU,” said Mr Hogan. “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.” The Irish commissioner went on: “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.”

His remarks came as it emerged that Mr Johnson will accompany Theresa May to Florence for her speech on EU relations on Friday in an attempt to show unity.

Chancellor Philip Hammond, who is at odds with Mr Johnson, and Brexit Secretary David Davis will also be there. One source told the Standard there was a plan to put most of the senior Cabinet members in the front row during Mrs May’s speech.

Expectations are high in Brussels and London that the Prime Minister will seek to kickstart talks by offering a significant payment by the UK to EU funds during a transitional period after Brexit in March 2019, with sums of over £20 billion or even £40 billion being rumoured. Mrs May will seek to bind the full Cabinet into backing her speech during a special session tomorrow. Mr Johnson withdrew his apparent threat to resign from the Cabinet last night amid talk of a truce with Mrs May.

Irish officials were outraged that his Brexit plan, outlined in a lengthy essay in the Daily Telegraph, failed to offer any solutions for maintaining a frictionless border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, a key priority for the EU.

“It’s amazing that the UK’s Foreign Secretary can publish a 4,000-word article about the UK’s Brexit future and not mention the Irish border,” Mr Hogan said. “You’d think that the Foreign Secretary would have ideas about how to manage the UK’s main land border with the European Union, but obviously not.

“So if Mrs May is as vague on the three questions as Mr Johnson was in her speech in Florence then the signs will not be good.”