Boris Johnson sets out Brexit vision, revives claim of the National Health Service boost

British foreign secretary Boris Johnson has set out a detailed vision for Britain's exit from the European Union that revives the widely-criticised claim Brexit could boost the British health service by £350 million a week.


Just six days before Theresa May will set out her Brexit blueprint in a speech in Florence, Mr Johnson has penned an article laying out his own path for a "glorious" future outside the bloc.

He said Britain should not pay for access to European markets and must seize the opportunity to reform the tax system to encourage investment.

He suggests continued membership of the single market and customs union would make a "complete mockery" of the referendum result.

Mr Johnson’s decision to publicise his own Brexit strategy is likely to fuel speculation his leadership ambitions remain.

In the article for the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Mr Johnson insists Brexit will allow the UK to "be the greatest country on earth" and "our destiny will be in our own hands".

"This country will succeed in our new national enterprise, and will succeed mightily," he wrote.

The Leave campaign's most eye-catching pledge during the referendum campaign was a claim ending Britain's contributions to the EU would free up an extra £350 million a week that could be spent on the National Health Service.

It was widely derided and in the weeks after the result, Mr Johnson and other campaigners, appeared to distance themselves from the promise.
 [rte.ie]
 16/9/17