Tue Dec 4, 2012, 08:13 AM

Boris Johnson calls for 'pared down' EU relationship

Boris Johnson has called on the UK to negotiate a new "pared-down relationship" with the European Union.

The London Mayor said Britain should remain in the single market but pull out of the political union.

The UK should form an "outer-tier" of the EU with countries like Norway and Switzerland, he said in a speech.

And a referendum should be held with the question: "Do you want to stay in the EU single market as renegotiated? Yes or No?"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20592596

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3 replies	Author	Time	Post
Boris Johnson calls for 'pared down' EU relationship (Original post)	dipsydoodle	Dec 2012	OP
It was bad enough when there was only one leader of the Conservatives.	non sociopath skin	Dec 2012	#1
Have you ever noticed.......	T_i_B	Dec 2012	#2
Boris is fairly good at playing for both sides at the moment	LeftishBrit	Dec 2012	#3

Response to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Tue Dec 4, 2012, 05:47 PM

non sociopath skin (4,572 posts)

1. It was bad enough when there was only one leader of the Conservatives.

Last edited Wed Dec 5, 2012, 04:51 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Now - with Dave, Boris and Nige, we have a clown for each ring of the circus.

The Skin

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Response to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Wed Dec 5, 2012, 03:06 AM

T_i_B (11,182 posts)

2. Have you ever noticed.......

......that Boris is very keen on pontificating about matters that he has no jurisdiction over. It's a different matter when it's something that the Mayor of London is responsible for.

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Response to T_i_B (Reply #2)

Wed Dec 5, 2012, 05:07 AM

LeftishBrit (29,617 posts)

3. Boris is fairly good at playing for both sides at the moment

He is often vaguely wet when it comes to actual policies as Mayor of London; and actually sometimes says or does someting reasonable.Not because of any particular principles, but because any Mayor of London depends on attracting some Labour-leaning swing voters.

On the other hand, he also wants to be leader of the Conservative Party; and that depends on attracting people to the right of Cameron, who may revolt against him with support from UKIP sympathizers.

Difficult task, doing both at once; wooing away the soft Ken Livingstone voters, and being Nadine Dorries' darling at the same time. At least the Vicar of Bray only had to pander to the different monarchs successively, not simultaneously!

Boris may be considered as a Bold Maverick by some, but frankly when looked at closely, he'd make Nick Clegg look like a man of firm principle in comparison. And as with Clegg, I think it will all unravel at some point.

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