Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Boris Johnson and Douglas Carswell

Tuesday 21st February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Boris Johnson]

I certainly agree with that, and those negotiations should take place as fast as possible and without preconditions.

[Mr Douglas Carswell (Clacton) (UKIP)]

With Iran testing missiles, Russia plotting coups and North Korea murdering dissidents, does the Foreign Secretary agree that now is the time to renew western resolve and leadership, which has sometimes been lacking during the past eight years?

[Boris Johnson]

I completely agree. One of the interesting phenomena of the global reaction to the new US President is how much it is at variance with some of the commentary I have heard from the Opposition Benches this morning. When I go around the world, I find that many people in foreign ministries and other Governments are hopeful that they will see American leadership again where it has been lacking. They are particularly encouraged by the role of the United Kingdom in helping to transmit and improve American policy.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Boris Johnson and Douglas Carswell

Tuesday 10th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Boris Johnson]

I am grateful for that question because it is important for the House to keep in mind the importance of the sanctions. The support for sanctions against Russia—for instance, over Ukraine—is not as strong as it should be in other parts of the European Union, and the UK is in the lead in keeping the pressure on.

[Mr Douglas Carswell (Clacton) (UKIP)]

T4. Following the Foreign Secretary’s trip to America, how confident is he that we might have a US-UK free trade agreement on the table within the next couple of years? Does he believe there is an appetite for it to be based on mutual standard recognition, rather than on single standard imposition?

[Boris Johnson]

The short answer is that my enthusiasm is nothing compared with the enthusiasm of our friends on the other side of the Atlantic. We will get a good deal, but it has to be a good deal for the UK as well.