Boris Johnson says Britain will break free of ‘manacles’ of EU like the Incredible Hulk
15 September 2019, 08:47
Boris Johnson has said he wants Britain to break free of the ‘manacles’ of the EU like the Incredible Hulk.
The Prime Minister said if negotiations break down, he will ignore the Commons vote ordering him to delay the UK’s departure, saying: “The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets.”
Mr Johnson is due to meet European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker tomorrow.
He told the Mail on Sunday: “Bruce Banner might be bound in manacles, but when provoked he would explode out of them.
"Hulk always escaped, no matter how tightly bound in he seemed to be – and that is the case for this country.
“We will come out on October 31 and we will get it done."
"I think we will get there. I will be talking to Jean-Claude about how we're going to do it.
"I'm very confident. When I got this job everybody was saying there can be absolutely no change to the Withdrawal Agreement, the backstop was immutable, the arrangements by which the UK was kept locked in to the EU for ever, they said no one could change that.
"They have already moved off that and, as you know, there's a very, very good conversation going on about how to address the issues of the Northern Irish border.
“A huge amount of progress is being made."
He said: "I will be talking to Jean-Claude about how we're going to do it. I'm very confident.
"When I got this job everybody was saying there can be absolutely no change to the Withdrawal Agreement, the backstop was immutable, the arrangements by which the UK was kept locked in to the EU forever, they said no-one could change that.
"They have already moved off that and, as you know, there's a very, very good conversation going on about how to address the issues of the Northern Irish border. A huge amount of progress is being made."
Escargot, salmon and fromage will be on the menu when Mr Johnson and Mr Juncker meet for lunch on Monday.
The PM, accompanied by Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay and Number 10's Brexit sherpa David Frost, will also meet the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier during the Luxembourg visit.
However, Downing Street has cautioned that Monday's meetings will not be a "big breakthrough" moment in the Government's bid to strike a deal with Brussels.
Ahead of the trip, Mr Johnson added: "Don't be fooled by (Labour leader Jeremy) Corbyn and the ringleaders. On the one hand, they say I don't want a deal.
"On the other, they want to force me to extend. Both are wrong. I am straining to get a deal, but I will also end the uncertainty and take us out on the October 31."
