Boris Johnson has contradicted Michael Gove’s claim that the government is working “on the assumption” that there will be a no-deal Brexit.
The BBC asked the prime minister during a visit to Scotland on Monday: “Michael Gove says the government’s working assumption now has to be there will be no-deal with the EU, is that your assumption?”
Johnson said: “No, absolutely not.
“My assumption is we can get a new deal, we are aiming for a new deal.”
The prime minister added the UK would not be “aloof or hanging back” from talks and said he wants to “engage, to hold out the hand”.
Downing Street said today Johnson will not sit down for Brexit talks with EU leaders until they agree to renegotiate the exit deal struck with Theresa May.
Johnson said: “The backstop is no good. It’s dead. It has got to go. The withdrawal agreement is dead, it’s got to go. But there is scope to do a new deal.”
“We are talking to the Irish today what the limits are, what we want to do, and we are very confident that with good will on both sides, two mature political entities, the UK and the EU, can get this thing done,” he said.
On Sunday, Gove, who is charge of no-deal planning as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, told The Sunday Times: “The EU’s leaders have, so far, said they will not change their approach — it’s the unreformed withdrawal agreement, take it or leave it.
“We still hope they will change their minds, but we must operate on the assumption that they will not.”
Gove chaired the first meeting of Johnson’s new Brexit war cabinet – the Exit Strategy committee known as XS – today as the government steps up planning for a no-deal exit on October 31.
A major advertising campaign – reportedly costing up to £100m – is also planned to raise public awareness of Brexit issues.
Oliver Letwin, the senior Tory who has helped lead cross-party efforts to stop no-deal, today admitted it may now be too late to find an alternative.