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Johnson and Hunt both say they're willing to accept no-deal Brexit if they have to

Both Conservative leadership hopefuls in the UK say they believe they can secure a Brexit deal - ...
Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

14.36 30 Jun 2019


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Johnson and Hunt both say they...

Johnson and Hunt both say they're willing to accept no-deal Brexit if they have to

Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

14.36 30 Jun 2019


Share this article


Both Conservative leadership hopefuls in the UK say they believe they can secure a Brexit deal - but insisted they would accept a no-deal scenario if they have to.

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt are continuing to make their case to party members.

Hustings are taking place across the UK as members are balloted, with a final result due to be announced on 22nd July.

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With the campaign in full flow, Mr Johnson spoke to Sky News's Sophy Ridge about Brexit.

The leadership contest frontrunner was quizzed about comments from several European and EU leaders - including Leo Varadkar - insisting the withdrawal agreement would not be renegotiate.d

He responded: "Well I think it's possibly the case that they would say that at this particular stage in the negotiations.

"You would expect them to say that kind of thing."

Despite the firm comments from the EU, the former British foreign secretary expressed confidence the UK will be able to leave the bloc with a deal if he becomes prime minister.

He argued: "I take personal responsibility... for the vote to leave the European Union. I played a part in that campaign, and I'm very proud of what we did.

"But I take personal responsibility now for what is happening in our country... for the drift and the dither and the indecision, and the failure to be sufficient robust in the negotiations which we've seen so far."

He added: "What I want to add now is my own ability, I think, to lead us out of this mess - to get Brexit done by October 31st... with no deal if we absolutely have to. But we will get a deal."

Jeremy Hunt

Mr Johnson's leadership opponent, Jeremy Hunt, has also been speaking today about his own Brexit approach.

He isn't ruling out supporting a no-deal exit, although stressed that he'd prefer a deal.

Speaking to BBC's Andrew Marr, Mr Hunt was asked whether he'd look people in the eye if they were to lose their jobs as a consequence of a hard Brexit.

He responded: "I would do so, but I would do it with a heavy heart - precisely because of the risk.

"If, in order to do what the people tell us to do, we have to leave without a deal... I would do that.

"But I would find support for those [affected] companies to help them weather the storm."

The British foreign secretary claimed he's better placed to secure a deal than Boris Johnson.

Mr Hunt said he's "not going to rip up" a deal if one is on the table at the end of October and a 'few more parliamentary days' are needed to get it through.

However, he added: “At the beginning of October, if there is no prospect of a deal that can get through parliament, then I will leave at the end of October - because that is our democratic promise to the British people."

Main image: In this two photo file combo image, Jeremy Hunt, left, and Boris Johnson, right, who are the final two contenders for leadership of the Conservative Party. Picture by: Matt Dunham, Frank Augstein/AP/Press Association Images

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