London Mayer, born in New York, lived in Brussels as a child, BoJo says the decision involved "a huge amount of heartache"
- Announcement comes a day after the referendum announcement
- Informed former classmate David Cameron by text message
ADVERTISEMENTBoris Johnson has announced he plans to lead the campaign for Britain to leave the EU.
Speaking to reporters on the doorstep of his home in the UK capital, the flamboyant mayor of London says the decision involved a ‘huge amount of heartache.’
.
MayorofLondon</a> Boris Johnson announces he backs campaign for UK to leave EU <a href="https://t.co/Kc0g3oBq46">https://t.co/Kc0g3oBq46</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EUref?src=hash">#EUref</a> <a href="https://t.co/poUWpWwBs5">pic.twitter.com/poUWpWwBs5</a></p>— BBC News (UK) (BBCNews) February 21, 2016
NEW: Big boost for Leave campaign as Boris Johnson announces he will campaign for Brexit. https://t.co/NjRl3bx6zJpic.twitter.com/Z40Ro5lm4m
— PoliticsHome (@politicshome) February 21, 2016
Brexit: Why has Boris Johnson backed the Out campaign? https://t.co/MyEHO851m2pic.twitter.com/qXwyBjTtzh
— Financial Times (@FT) February 21, 2016
Boris is an ‘Out-er’
Insiders say Johnson’s decision is a huge boost to the “Out” campaign.
He described the EU as “eroding British sovereignty”:
“There should be no confusion between the wonders of Europe and holidays in Europe and fantastic food and friendship and whatever else you get from Europe and the political project.”
“But I would like to see a new relationship based more on trade and cooperation and less, as I said, of this supranational element.”
It is also a knock for David Cameron. The UK Prime Minister has been trying to build a consensus to back the campaign to stay “In”.
Cameron is on record as saying the UK will be “safer and stronger” within the EU.
Who is Boris Johnson?
- Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson
- Born 1964 in New York
- Lived in Brussels suburb of Uccle for 2 years as a child
- Classmates with David Cameron at prestigious Eton School
- Former journalist
- Elected Mayor of London 2008
- MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip
- Father is a former centre-right MEP and employee of the European Commission
(Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson)
Why Boris Johnson?
Boris, or BoJo as his name is sometimes shortened to, has arguably the highest Conservative profile after David Cameron.
With his shock of blond hair and eccentric manner, insiders say he is sure to not go unnoticed by referendum voters.
In pictures
BREAKING: London Mayor Boris Johnson confirms he'll campaign for Britain to quit EU https://t.co/YUkJFEWBQtpic.twitter.com/X5huRtMNhm
— Bloomberg Business (@business) February 21, 2016
Boris Johnson’s skewed priorities are creating a public health disaster https://t.co/cck4snh1EK via
leftfootfwd</a> <a href="https://t.co/cVveuGYZbY">pic.twitter.com/cVveuGYZbY</a></p>— Michael Vine (mpvine) February 10, 2016
You said Bear Grylls – I was thinking more Boris Johnson #FriendsWithTink:
DLPHotSeat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MagicalDLP">MagicalDLPDLPTownSquare</a> <a href="https://t.co/D3u89r2DCv">pic.twitter.com/D3u89r2DCv</a></p>— Martin (keiko315) February 10, 2016
Boris Johnson aims to boost 50 London businesses https://t.co/BW6Q71RPjJpic.twitter.com/BE81yE9Ufr
— TableCrowd (@TableCrowd) February 10, 2016
Boris Johnson: “It was jolly nice. But apparently it is very different these days. Much… https://t.co/HaPen5U4vwpic.twitter.com/BFIh1BcymL
— Next420 (@Next420info) February 8, 2016