Boris Johnson could be resigning from the cabinet as Foreign Secretary if Prime Minister Theresa May signals she will pursue a “Swiss-style” Brexit, even though he is publicly denying he will walk away from the Cabinet.
The foreign secretary reportedly told reporters in New York he would not resign and denied the cabinet was split over Brexit policy, insisting: “We are a nest of singing birds.”
But it is understood that Johnson may consider resigning if May talks about “soft Brexit” advocated by Chancellor Philip Hammond, when she makes a key speech in Florence.
The Telegraph reported on Tuesday that the foreign secretary could even quit the cabinet before the weekend if May signals that she will sign up the UK to paying for access to the single market permanently in an arrangement similar to staying in the European Economic Area (EEA).
The foreign secretary – who is supported by other pro-leave ministers, including Michael Gove, was unhappy about some of the wording in early drafts of the speech.
