Boris Johnson told EU ambassadors he BACKS freedom of movement despite Brexit plea to control our borders
The Foreign Secretary made the remarks to at least four senior EU ambassadors
BORIS Johnson has told ambassadors he personally backs high levels of EU immigration despite calling for a Brexit clampdown.
The Foreign Secretary made the startling remarks to at least four senior diplomats from other European capitals.
He was also reported as saying he could not repeat his views in public as it was not government policy.
The revelation comes despite Mr Johnson leading the Leave campaign during the EU referendum with a flagship pledge to curb the number of new arrivals.
One ambassador told Sky News: “He did say he was personally in favour of free movement, as it corresponds to his own beliefs.
“But he said it wasn’t government policy.”
Another one added: “Boris Johnson told us he was personally in favour of it, but he said that Britain had been more affected by free movement of people than other EU member states”.
The remarks follow The Sun’s revelation yesterday that Boris pushed for a controversial amnesty for tens of thousands of illegal immigrants in Britain today during a recent Cabinet ministers’ meeting.
Pro-EU critics leaped on the new development last night to insist it revealed Theresa May’s government is in a mess over Brexit.
Mr Johnson’s aides admitted last night he did make pro-immigration remarks, but stopped short of endorsing free movement.
A spokesman for the Foreign Secretary said: “Boris said he was pro-immigration but wanted to take back control to limit numbers.
“He did not say he supported freedom of movement and challenges anyone to show proof that he ever said that.
“Boris was simply pointing out that we have benefited greatly from EU citizens coming to the UK and pulling up the drawbridge would not be in Britain’s interests.
“But he has always been clear that we must take back control on issues such as immigration - a view expressed by the majority of the British population in the referendum.”
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Another EU ambassador told Sky News Boris has “no credibility” with them because of his contradictory positions.
Former Deputy PM and ex-Lib Dem boss Nick Clegg said: “It’s very hard to take Boris Johnson seriously.
“All we see from him is just an endless, slightly clueless flip flopping.
“It reveals the government is at sixes and sevens over Brexit.”