Barnier's Insights on Johnson's Brexit Stance
Michel Barnier, who served as the European Union's chief negotiator for Brexit, recently shared his reflections on the motivations behind former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's support for leaving the EU. Barnier recounted a weekend spent with Johnson's father, Stanley Johnson, an encounter facilitated by a family connection. Barnier's wife, Isabelle, is a close friend of Anne du Boucheron, a French cousin of Johnson and the proprietor of Château de la Baronnière in western France.
During this friendly gathering at the 19th-century estate, Barnier engaged in discussions with Stanley Johnson regarding his son's shift towards advocating for Brexit. Barnier observed, "Boris was much more European at the beginning. Even if he was critical." He further elaborated on what he perceived as Johnson's underlying approach: "I don’t see it as a motivation but it is, perhaps, a method or attitude: to be pragmatic in some way. Cynical. Cynical to get power."
Future of UK-EU Relations
Beyond his insights into Johnson's past actions, Barnier also addressed the future of the United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union. He expressed a belief that, given the current global instability, it is "perfectly possible" for the UK to consider rejoining the EU. Significantly, Barnier suggested that if such a scenario were to unfold, the UK might be able to retain certain pre-Brexit special terms and opt-outs it previously held.
Source: ‘Cynical to get power’: Michel Barnier on Boris Johnson, Brexit and the EU’s future