Boris Johnson supporter says ‘he may delay Brexit by a few WEEKS’ if he becomes PM
A SENIOR Boris Johnson backer today admitted he may have to delay Brexit by a few weeks.
A day after the frontrunner warned Britain risks Jeremy Corbyn in No10 if Brexit is delayed beyond October 31, the backer said it could slip.
But they warned the next PM must “explain to the country” why the Halloween deadline had been missed, blasting Theresa May for failing to in March.
Any delay risks shattering a promise Mr Johnson made to supporters at his campaign launch just 48 hours ago.
The Tory told The Sun: “If it is a matter of just a few weeks then why not? But it can’t slip beyond November.” The comments risk sparking alarm among Brexiteer-backers of Mr Johnson.
Launching his bid for power on Wednesday, Mr Johnson insisted Brexit cannot be delayed again.
He told his jam-packed launch: “After three years and two missed deadlines, we must leave the EU on October 31.”
And he has privately promised Tory Brexiteers he will consider closing Parliament down early to ram through a no-deal on Halloween.
Mr Johnson has managed to win over most of the Brexit-backing ERG group, with Jacob Rees-Mogg, Steve Baker and Mark Francois all backing him for leader.
Conor Burns - a key Johnson aide - yesterday insisted the frontrunner was committed to the October 31 deadline.
He said: “You heard him at the launch, if we kick the can we kick the bucket.”
Mr Johnson is the overwhelming favourite to be the next Tory leader after 114 MPs backed him in the first round.
His storming performance came after he managed to convince both moderates and hardline Brexiteers to back him.
Dominic Raab – who has also promised not to delay Brexit beyond the October 31 date – only got 27 votes.
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