A “distraught” Boris Johnson declared “we’ve got no plan” when he realised Vote Leave would win the Brexit referendum, a brand new ebook claims.
Mr Johnson, who’s extensively credited with delivering the slim majority for Brexit, is claimed to have walked round his lounge “looking ashen-faced and distraught”, muttering: “What the hell is happening? … Oh s***, we’ve got no plan.
“We haven’t thought about it. I didn’t think it would happen. Holy c***, what will we do?”.
Anthony Seldon, who has written books on the Downing Street years of each British chief from Margaret Thatcher to David Cameron, has with Raymond Newell turned his pen on Mr Johnson.
Johnson leaves his London dwelling on morning of 24 June 2016
(Getty Images)
The authors stated Johnson at 10: The Inside Story, to be revealed by Atlantic Books on 4 May, attracts on conversations with Westminster insiders and people near arguably essentially the most influential man in British politics for many years.
An extract revealed in The Times on Monday covers the hours and days after the Brexit victory.
George Osborne, Mr Cameron’s chancellor and a member of the Remain camp, is quoted as saying Mr Johnson’s strategy to the referendum was “1,000 per cent cynical”.
“I think it was a straight calculation,” stated Oliver Lewis, who was Mr Johnson’s Brexit adviser in No 10. “He reckoned it was win-win. ‘If I come out for Brexit and we lose, I position myself as a hero Eurosceptic, from which I can win the leadership at the next contest. If we win, then I’ll be clear favourite for prime minister.’”
Johnson arrives at Westminster Tower, Vote Leave HQ, for a press convention hours after victory
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One insider advised the authors that the normally ebullient face of Mr Johnson was struck with guilt when he noticed Samantha Cameron, spouse of his old-fashioned buddy and the then-prime minister, on tv trying upset within the data that her husband had been defeated.
“Oh my God. Look at Sam. God. Poor Sam,” he’s quoted as having stated.
The authors added: “Those who knew Johnson intimately say they had never seen him more frightened and dismayed than at this moment of triumph.”
Not lengthy after daybreak, Mr Johnson left his Islington dwelling to journey to a Vote Leave victory occasion. The road outdoors was swarmed with protesters as he was pushed in the direction of Westminster.
Police escort Johnson’s automobile via protesters away from his dwelling
(AFP/Getty)
“The crowds began banging angrily on the windows and roof. Boris looked terrified. He stared dead ahead, sensing that from this moment on, everything had changed,” an insider stated.
The extract goes on to cowl the Tory management race which adopted Mr Cameron’s resignation, which noticed an opportunity for Mr Johnson to understand his dream of being prime minister stamped out when his Vote Leave companion Michael Gove stood in opposition to him.
In launching his bid for the highest job, Mr Gove, who had hours earlier than been working Mr Johnson’s marketing campaign for the management, advised the general public: “Boris cannot provide the leadership or build and unite the team in order to take this country forward.”
Johnson addresses a press convention at Vote Leave HQ after win
(Getty)
This made Mr Johnson cry, it’s claimed. “It was one of the very few times I saw him in tears,” one in every of his colleagues advised the authors.
A member of the family stated the betrayal had private ramifications far past Mr Johnson’s relationship with Mr Gove.
“He didn’t trust anyone again,” they stated. “I don’t know if he ever quite trusted his old friends or even his family in the same way.”
Mr Johnson declined to touch upon the claims when requested by The Independent.
In an earlier extract from the ebook, Mr Johnson is claimed to have referred to himself as “the fuhrer” and “the king” throughout his time in Downing Street.
