Gloves come off as UK PM hopefuls gun for Boris Johnson

London

SEVERAL hopefuls vying to replace British Prime Minister Theresa May trained their fire towards favourite Boris Johnson on Sunday, questioning his pledge to leave the European Union by the end of October no matter what.

With former London mayor and foreign minister Mr Johnson keeping a low profile, the other candidates have targeted the airwaves to try to present their cases to lead the governing Conservative Party. But the question always returns to "Boris".

The free publicity has done little so far to hurt Mr Johnson, who unlike many politicians, is better known by his first name Boris. He secured a large lead in the first round of voting and his team hopes for an increased share this week in the second. But now the gloves are off. Candidate after candidate on Sunday questioned his ability to navigate Britain's departure from the EU, saying his pledge to leave on Oct 31 was nigh on impossible and would set Britain on track for a no-deal Brexit.

"The difference between me and Boris is that I would try for a deal," said Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt, who is running in second place in the leadership contest.

"I am not going to create a set of circumstances that makes it all but impossible to get a deal because I think we should be offering the country some better choices," he told the BBC Andrew Marr Show, adding that he was the only "alternative". One of Mr Hunt's supporters, Work and Pensions Minister Amber Rudd, went further, making a thinly veiled criticism of what she described as some candidates "do or die approach" to Brexit without "considering the consequences to people's jobs".

Almost three years since Britain voted to leave the EU, the country, the Parliament and both of the main parties are still deeply divided over how, when and even whether Brexit should happen.

Brexit has claimed two prime ministers. David Cameron resigned shortly after the referendum and now Mrs May is making way for a successor because of her failure to get a deal she agreed with the EU through Parliament. The question over Britain's membership of the bloc is dominating the Conservative leadership race, with many of the candidates, albeit some of them reluctantly, saying they would lead the country out without a Brexit deal.

One, Rory Stewart, who wants to rule out a no-deal Brexit, took issue with Mr Johnson's argument that the only way to get an improved deal from the EU was to prepare for leaving without an agreement and using that as leverage.

"They are not scared of it because it is not a credible threat. The European Union knows 'no deal' cannot get through Parliament," he told the BBC, taking aim at Mr Johnson for not offering up his views to scrutiny. REUTERS