Boris plays his Brexit Trump card

United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has been at it again — blaming the Civil Service for his Government’s woeful handling of the negotiations to exit the European Union (Brexit).

This time his target was the Treasury, which he described as the “heart of Remain”.

In comments which were apparently off the record but nevertheless recorded, Johnson said the Treasury did not want the initial friction and disruption caused by the UK’s exit  

“They are sacrificing all the medium and long-term gains [from Brexit] amid fear of short-term disruption,” Johnson is reported to have said.

“That fear of short-term disruption has become so huge in people’s minds that they’re turning wet. Project Fear is really working on them. They’re terrified of this nonsense. It’s all mumbo jumbo.”

Johnson’s reference to Project Fear, a term used during the 2016 referendum to deride any claims of negative effects of a British EU withdrawal, clearly indicated he is aware that the tide of public opinion is turning against Brexit.

However, it is what he said next that startled his audience.

Johnson said he had an increasing admiration for United States President Donald Trump.

“Imagine Trump doing Brexit. He’d go in bloody hard. There’d be all sorts of breakdowns. All sorts of chaos. Everyone would think he’d gone mad, but actually you might get somewhere. It’s a very, very good thought.”

Johnson was presumably referring to Trump’s executive orders making it easier to sack Public Servants he disagreed with, the legality of which is being challenged by public sector unions in a dispute that could reach the Supreme Court.    

It led to a sardonic question in Parliament when Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn asked if Prime Minister Theresa May was going to ask Trump to take over the Brexit negotiations.

May’s answer was drowned out by cheering and laughter as Johnson sat beside her, grinning sheepishly. 

The best that can be said of this unedifying incident is that Johnson, no stranger to alcoholic refreshment, was speaking at a dinner given by the Institute of Directors, following a drinks reception hosted by the Conservative Way Forward think tank. 

From the time during the referendum campaign when he claimed withdrawal from the EU would allow an extra £350 million ($A622 million) to be spent on the National Health Service, Johnson has proved he has a fertile imagination.

His blunderings into areas outside the purview of the Foreign Office, such as his support for a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland, have proved a constant irritation to his colleagues.

However, most commentators believe that Johnson, who led the Brexit referendum campaign, is unsackable, and May is stuck with him to the bitter end.

A friend of Johnson’s claimed the dinner meeting was held “under Chatham House rules” and it was “disappointing” his comments had been publicised.

Better advice would be for the Foreign Secretary to think twice before sounding off rather than relying on conventions that are simply irrelevant in an age where anyone with a smartphone is an instant publicist and broadcaster.