Boris Johnson isn’t keen for his Leave campaign to come to naught (Image: Getty)
Boris Johnson has slammed Keir Starmer’s Brexit reversal plan, saying MPs will be “walking into a hail of machine gun fire” if they attempt to overturn the 2016 referendum.
The former Prime Minister argued in a column in the Daily Mail that a growing number of Labour MPs want Starmer gone as the party sinks to a record low of 14% approval.
Boris explains that Labour MPs want Starmer to commit to a massive U-turn by making Labour the pro-EU party. The problem they face is that they don’t believe Starmer is the right man to lead the Rejoin campaign – partly, but not limited to, how he swore at the last election that he would not try to reverse Brexit.
“If Labour MPs try to reverse Brexit they will be walking into a hail of machine gun fire – and if that’s the fight they want, bring it on! But they should heed my warning before things get bloody…” wrote Boris on MailOnline.
This week, the House of Commons voted to begin talks with the European Union about creating a new customs union with the UK – a move that could begin the reversal of Brexit. It comes after Labour Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said the UK would be better off if it rejoined the customs union, which it left as part of exiting the EU.
Most Labour MPs abstained in the Commons vote, but 13 voted in favour of the UK holding talks with the EU while just three voted against. A total of 100 MPs voted in favour, including Liberal Democrat, Green and SNP MPs.
“He can try to cover up the damage Labour is doing to Britain, by claiming (falsely) that it is all thanks to that 2016 vote,” wrote Boris. He pointed to discredited promises, unnecessary tax rises, “many charges of lying” and Wes Streeting failing to fix the NHS.
Some Labour MPs allegedly don’t think Starmer is the right man to lead Rejoin (Image: Getty)
Boris, who led the Leave campaign, highlights how the UK has not suffered the post-Brexit catastrophe some Remainers predicted. Rather, we have “grown faster than Germany and several other EU countries.”
The Conservative politician suggested that the UK should try to attract global investors instead of raising taxes and hammering wealth creators so hard that they leave the country.
Finally, he criticised Labour’s decision to cancel the Rwanda policy only to act shocked when tens of thousands continue to cross the channel.
Mr Johnson’s intervention is likely to add further pressure to an already heated debate over Britain’s future relationship with the European Union. While he argues that reopening fundamental questions about Brexit would risk dividing the country once again, supporters of closer ties with the EU contend that the economic and geopolitical landscape has evolved since the 2016 referendum and merits continued discussion.
Within Westminster, opinions remain divided. Some MPs believe that improving cooperation with the EU on trade, defence, research and security is compatible with respecting the referendum result, while others view proposals such as a customs union as a significant shift away from the post-Brexit settlement. The precise implications would depend on the details of any future negotiations, which would themselves require political agreement on both sides.
For Labour, the issue presents a delicate political balancing act. The party has repeatedly stated that it does not intend to rejoin the European Union, the single market or the customs union, while also seeking to improve practical relations with European partners. Critics argue that individual comments from some Labour politicians have created uncertainty about the party’s longer-term direction, whereas Labour supporters maintain that closer cooperation does not necessarily amount to reversing Brexit.
The debate also reflects broader questions about Britain’s economic strategy. Supporters of stronger links with the EU argue that reducing trade barriers could benefit businesses, exporters and investment. Opponents counter that maintaining greater regulatory independence allows the UK to pursue its own trade policies and respond more flexibly to global economic opportunities.
Mr Johnson also used his article to argue that economic growth should be encouraged through measures designed to attract investment and support enterprise rather than through higher taxation. Tax policy has become one of the defining dividing lines in British politics, with different parties offering contrasting approaches to balancing public spending, borrowing and revenue raising. Business groups, economists and political commentators continue to debate the potential impact of these competing strategies.
Immigration and border policy remain another major area of disagreement. Since the cancellation of the Rwanda scheme, opposition parties have continued to challenge the Government over irregular Channel crossings and the wider asylum system. Ministers have argued that alternative measures are intended to improve efficiency and comply with legal obligations, while critics maintain that stronger deterrence policies are required.
As political debate continues, Brexit remains an issue capable of provoking strong opinions across the political spectrum. Although the United Kingdom formally left the European Union several years ago, discussions about the country’s future relationship with its European neighbours continue to shape debates on trade, regulation, investment, migration and national sovereignty.
Ultimately, any substantial change to the UK’s relationship with the European Union would require extensive political debate, parliamentary scrutiny and, depending on the proposals involved, significant public discussion. While figures from different parties continue to advance competing visions for Britain’s future, the direction of policy will ultimately depend on decisions made through the democratic process and the choices of voters at future elections.