Boris Johnson believes the Withdrawal Agreement he entered into "never made sense" and "would leave Northern Ireland isolated from the rest of the UK."
But what did he say at the time - following, a few of many examples?
But what did he say at the time - following, a few of many examples?
22 October 2019: "this new deal... I believe is profoundly in the interests of our whole United Kingdom" (bit.ly/35ZfoE8).
22 October 2019: "for the vast majority of the Northern Ireland economy, Northern Ireland exits with the rest of the UK whole and entire, able to do free trade deals from the outset and participate in all the other benefits of Brexit"(bit.ly/33ao6yL).
22 October 2019: asked by Kate Hoey whether "trading between NI and GB is somehow now treated as if they are sending something to a foreign country" Johnson replies "I must make myself absolutely clear—that NI is leaving the EU with the rest of the UK, whole and entire."
22 October 2019: Johnson (recognising if no trade deal is struck there will be checks at the GB-NI border) "there are no checks GB-NI" but such checks as there are "all may be replaced in the great work of beginning the free trade agreement" (bit.ly/2NjCwEX).
22 October 2019: asked by Iain Duncan Smith whether NI would be treated the same as Kent Johnson assures him: "That is exactly what this Bill does and what this agreement has secured" (bit.ly/36mg9Hn).
22 October 2019: "This Bill upholds in full the Belfast/Good Friday agreement, as Lord Trimble has attested, and our unwavering commitment to Northern Ireland’s place in the Union" (bit.ly/3jYwzvQ).
22 October 2019: asked by Caroline Lucas for a specific assurance "that we will not crash out at the end of December next year" Johnson replies "I can indeed assure the hon. Lady that there will be no crashing out" (bit.ly/3lWrWnE).
29 October 2019: it would "allow us to leave the EU as one whole United Kingdom" and "able to deliver all the benefits and all the freedoms of Brexit" (bit.ly/334Jt32).
29 October 2019:: "Now that no deal is off the table, we have a great new deal." (bit.ly/2NofCMi).
29 October 2019: Asked by Ian Paisley "whether he will seek to change that withdrawal agreement" Johnson replies "we have an excellent deal for the whole of the UK and that we will campaign on the basis of that deal" (bit.ly/2udNExi).
Johnson misled the House of Commons about No Deal, he misled the people of NI about the Withdrawal Agreement, and he misled the EU when he signed a "great new deal", fewer than eight months ago, that he now wants to walk away from.
He shames us all.
He shames us all.
