Boris Johnson chides former prime ministers in their criticism of Brexit
In an apparent response to two former Prime Ministers' rebuke of the government's approach to Brexit, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson warned against “people moaning and droning about the state of the world”.
Johnson told the British Chamber of Commerce at its annual meeting in London that Britain would be a campaigner for free trade once it leaves the European Union, in a more positive note on Brexit after the former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and John Major's intervention on Brexit.
The former mayor of London said: "You know sometimes when I hear people moaning and droning about the state of the world I get a bit impatient. And when I hear them warn that the sky is about to fall on our heads I feel like saying 'come off it sunshine'."
He said that he believed the increasing protectionist and anti-globalisation movement was "profoundly wrong" and that post-Brexit Britain would be "getting the export ball back over net" as it negotiates new trade deals.
He stressed that Britain would not shirk its responsibilities in Europe and collaborate with the EU on security and valued its membership of the Nato military alliance.
Johnson added that "global Britain is a more safer Britain, a more successful Britain, above all, a more prosperous Britain".
The more upbeat tone comes after Major said on Monday that Britain leaving the bloc was a "historic mistake" and that Prime Minister Theresa May should not create "unreal and over-optimistic" expectations about leaving the EU.
The former Conservative Prime Minister said in a speech at Chatham House: "It has worrying implications for public services such as the NHS - and for the vulnerable who, I'm delighted to say, the government has pledged to help. So there is a choice to be made, a price to be paid; we cannot move to a radical enterprise economy without moving away from a welfare state.
“In my own experience, the most successful results are obtained when talks are conducted with goodwill. It is much easier to reach agreement with a friend than a quarrelsome neighbour. Behind the diplomatic civilities, the atmosphere is already sour. A little more charm, and a lot less cheap rhetoric, would do much to protect the UK’s interests.”
Tony Blair, the former Labour premier who led the country for a decade, previously called on people to "rise up" against Brexit and that Britons were entitled to change their minds on leaving.