Boris Johnson hits back at Sir John Major as Brexit row escalates

Brexit row: Boris Johnson arrives for a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street
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Boris Johnson hit back at Sir John Major today in a growing row over Britain’s future outside of the EU.

The Foreign Secretary warned against “people moaning and droning about the state of the world”.

Mr Johnson spoke out after former Prime Minister Sir John accused the Government of leading the public to expect a future outside the EU that is “unreal and over-optimistic”.

The ex-Tory leader also warned that the chance of no Brexit agreement being reached within the two-year time limit after triggering Article 50 next month is “very high”.

Speaking to business chiefs in central London, Mr Johnson was set to say: “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.”

Mr Johnson was also expected at the British Chambers of Commerce’s annual conference to launch a strong defence of globalisation.

Sir John Major criticised the government over Brexit 
Will Oliver/EPA

He was set to stress that it had helped to lift billions of people out of poverty over recent decades.

His championing of globalisation contrasts with protectionists moves launched by Donald Trump which have sparked concerns that they could hit world trade.

Despite Mr Johnson’s belief that Britain will strike a good trade deal with the EU, the BCC has called for potentially delaying the UK’s departure if a trade deal cannot be done by 2019.

It is also demanding that firms should be allowed freedom to continue recruiting skilled workers from the EU after the UK has broken away from Brussels.

The group called for an immigration system “with minimal bureaucracy, costs or barriers” after Brexit, with EU workers exempted from the Tier 2 visa system for skilled workers.

It also highlighted concerns in sectors such as agriculture and hospitality, which have relied on low-skilled workers from EU countries to fill vacancies.

Mr Johnson has stressed that Britain wants the EU to succeed and to be a strong trading partner.

Meanwhile, the Government has shot down the first challenge in the House of Lords against its plan to formally trigger the negotiations.

Peers voted by 299 to 136 against an amendment to the Brexit Bill demanding the UK retains membership of the European single market.

Ministers are also under pressure to gurantee rights for EU citizens already in the UK, including to protect the NHS from an exodus of doctors from other European countries.

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