Emmanuel Macron ‘backs’ Boris Johnson’s plan for a new bridge over the Channel – but Theresa May isn’t so keen
PM’s official spokesman insisted there were ‘no specific plans’ to follow up on the Foreign Secretary’s ambitious idea – which was blasted by Nigel Farage
THERESA May has failed to get behind Boris Johnson’s Channel bridge after Emmanuel Macron reportedly backed the new crossing.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman insisted there were “no specific plans” to follow up on the Foreign Secretary’s ambitious idea – which was blasted by Nigel Farage.
The former Ukip boss tweeted: “Boris' bonkers bridge sounds like a big waste of money.
“Dangerous for container ships and useless when the wind blows (which is often)!”
And it has been greeted with scepticism by representatives of the UK's shipping industry which tweeted: “Building a huge concrete structure in the middle of the world’s busiest shipping lane might come with some challenges.”
One architect said it would “be easier, and less expensive to just move France closer”, but other experts insisted the project – which was mooted back in the 1980s – is "entirely feasible".
Bridge designer Ian Firth, a past president of the Institution of Structural Engineers, said a bridge over the Channel - possibly with a stretch of tunnel in the middle to avoid having an impact on one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world - was not as far-fetched as it may seem.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It is entirely feasible. Before the Tunnel was built there were bridge options being looked at.
"There are bridges of a similar - if not quite the same - scale elsewhere. Of course this would not be one big span - the economics may lean towards something like 800m-1km spans.
"It would be a huge undertaking, but it would be absolutely possible, and shipping impact issues could be dealt with."
The Foreign Secretary is understood to want a new fixed link between the UK and France and believes "it's crazy that two of the biggest economies in the world are connected by one railway line when they are only 20 miles apart".
And he tweeted yesterday: "Our economic success depends on good infrastructure and good connections. Should the Channel Tunnel be just a first step?”
Winston Churchill’s grandson, Tory backbencher Nicholas Soames, said: “It’s an absolutely excellent idea.”
The Times reports that he brought up the suggestion in a meeting with the French leader - and he is understood to have replied: “I agree — let’s do it.”
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But shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry tweeted: "I ignored this earlier because I assumed it wasn't real. Apparently it is. I mean ... who are these clowns claiming to run our country?"
A blockbuster book on last year's Election revealed Boris Johnson wanted to build a Brexit road tunnel linking Britain and France under the English Channel to cement the countries' relationship after Brexit.
The Sunday Times' Tim Shipman said the Foreign Secretary had to be talked out of his plan for a "submarine highway" by former aide Will Walden.
As London Mayor he campaigned for a new four runway hub airport to replace Heathrow on the banks of the Thames Estuary.
Airports Commission chair Sir Howard Davies rejected the £80billion idea in 2014.