Sir John Major and Boris Johnson trade blows over Theresa May's Brexit deal as both question the other's 'honesty'

  • Former Prime Minister accuses Brexiteer Johnson of hypocrisy in interview
  • Remarks were made on ex-foreign secretary's first public outing with girlfriend
  • Sir John shared a similar experience when his affair was exposed in 2002

Sir John Major took aim at Boris Johnson yesterday as the two senior Tories traded blows over Theresa May’s stalled Brexit deal – with both men questioning the other’s ‘honesty’.

The spat started after the former Prime Minister, who opposes Brexit, was asked in a BBC interview about Mr Johnson’s claim that it was ‘shameful and dishonest’ to countenance staying in the EU because it would be ‘ripping up promises made to the electorate’.

Sir John responded: ‘I must say, being called dishonest by Boris Johnson is a rum thing to happen’.

Sir John Major (left) took aim at Boris Johnson (right) yesterday as the two senior Tories traded blows over Theresa May’s stalled Brexit deal – with both men questioning the other’s ‘honesty’

He made his remarks on the day that Mr Johnson, 54, was pictured in public for the first time with his new girlfriend, 30-year-old former Tory Party press chief Carrie Symonds.

The couple, who have kept a low profile since Mr Johnson and his wife Marina announced that they were divorcing last September, were captured exchanging ‘loving glances’ as they strolled together.

The comments will be interpreted by Mr Johnson’s camp as an allusion to the former Foreign Secretary’s complex love life. Sir John was himself at the centre of a press furore when his long-running affair with Edwina Currie was exposed in 2002.

Mr Johnson, 54, was pictured in public for the first time with his new girlfriend, 30-year-old former Tory Party press chief Carrie Symonds

Mr Johnson, 54, was pictured in public for the first time with his new girlfriend, 30-year-old former Tory Party press chief Carrie Symonds

Sir John said yesterday that Mrs May needed to become a mediator to help break the Brexit deadlock in Parliament. He called for MPs to be given a vote on all Brexit options.

The 75-year-old said the Prime Minister had been ‘handed a poisoned chalice’ and that things had been ‘extremely difficult’ for her.

‘Her position has been all but impossible,’ he added.

 

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