Optimism not enough to fulfill Brexit, says Jeremy Hunt's top ally Amber Rudd

Amber Rudd turned up the heat on Boris Johnson and his Brexit strategy
EPA
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Cabinet ministers turned the heat on Boris Johnson today over his vow to negotiate a new deal with the European Union by October 31.

Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, who is backing rival Jeremy Hunt, led the attack, saying: “Enthusiasm and optimism is not sufficient.”

She also sidestepped the question when asked if she would serve in a Johnson Cabinet.

Another grenade was lobbed by Justice Secretary David Gauke, who tweeted that Mr Johnson’s hope of maintaining existing trade rules for a period after leaving the EU was dependent on having a deal in place.

David Gauke also raised concerns about Mr Johnson's approach to Brexit
PA

The questions poured in after Mr Johnson submitted himself to more scrutiny, starting with a BBC1 interview in which he accepted that issues like the Northern Ireland border needed agreement on both sides.

“It’s not just up to us, it’s up to the other side as well,” he said. “We will work to have an outcome that is in the interests of people, businesses, on both sides of the channel.”

Ms Rudd said he needed to give more detail. “Boris needs to explain how he will deal with Conservative Party concerns and try and break the impasse with the European Union,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

She told Sky his interview was “full of energy” but she added: “It’s not sufficient just to say ‘well, we’re out’, what is the legal basis for that?”

Asked if she would serve under Mr Johnson, she said: “It is too early to say.”

Mr Gauke went on Twitter to claim: “Without the withdrawal agreement, no implementation period has been agreed. Leaving without a deal on October 31 means leaving without an implementation period.”

Speaking for Mr Johnson’s campaign, Communities Secretary James Brokenshire agreed that Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement was dead after being thrice rejected by MPs.

“That’s why Boris is the right person to advance that agenda,” he told Sky.

Asked by Today how much Mr Johnson’s plans to speed up the rollout of broadband would cost, Mr Brokenshire confirmed there would be “additional” cost but could not say how much.

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