Boris Johnson is like a “leprechaun promising pots of gold”, touting a plan that will lead to the “national disappointment” of another Brexit delay, a major Tory donor has said.
In an article for HuffPost UK Alexander Temerko, who has given more than £1m to the Tories, accused Johnson of peddling “fantasies” with his promise to leave the EU “do or die” on October 31.
Rather than waking up “as free people” on November 1, the UK would be forced to extend Article 50 and arise “to a stern Angela Merkel”, while the Tories would be forced from power soon after, Temerko said.
The Ukraine-born businessman, who became a British citizen in 2011, once said Johnson would make a “great prime minister” in the mould of Winston Churchill and was prepared to bankroll his aborted leadership bid in 2016.
But now Temerko is backing Johnson’s rival Jeremy Hunt to be the next prime minister, insisting Britain needs “an experienced statesman” instead of a “storyteller”.
In a robust intervention ahead of ballot papers being sent out to the selectorate of 160,000 Tory members this weekend, Temerko wrote: “October 31 will turn into another day of national disappointment and yet another Article 50 extension. The people who wish to believe the fairy tale they have been told by the fun blond guy, will wake up on November 1 to a stern Angela Merkel.
“This was always going to happen, and will happen unless we face reality and honestly admit that we are who we are and where we are.”
Hunt has not ruled out delaying Brexit beyond Halloween, while stressing he will make a decision on September 30 on whether to go for no deal on that deadline, or whether a better deal is possible with more time.
Johnson on the other hand has categorically ruled out any Brexit delay while declaring the existing withdrawal agreement as “dead”, despite the EU making clear they will not reopen it. That deal has been rejected by MPs three times already.
Temerko said Johnson’s threat was undeliverable and appeared to attack his refusal to rule out suspending parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit, insisting the UK must “abide by law, rules and tradition”.
He also appeared to criticise the ex-foreign secretary’s support for quick-fix solutions for keeping trade relations with the EU the same even if there is no deal.
Backing Hunt for the Tory leadership, Temerko said: “What we need today is not a storyteller issuing threats to our neighbours and swearing on October 31 as if it were the Holy Grail.
“We need a person of international standing, an experienced statesman with a business mindset.
“A leader who would be able to deliver Brexit without self-deception, without issuing empty threats or making false pledges.
“One who would be capable of maintaining a relationship with Europe, finding common ground with political and trade partners, strengthening the British economy and safeguarding UK’s security in the face of terrorism and Russian aggression.
“And this person is not our superhuman blond leprechaun promising pots of gold. It is our proper politician, and profoundly good man, Jeremy Hunt.”