Nicola Sturgeon mocked Boris Johnson’s change of heart over the EU withdrawal agreement, insisting he is “devoid of any principle” and likened him to hardline Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg. She wrote on Twitter: “Alert – this shameless charlatan, devoid of any principle whatsoever, is on the loose. Might be accompanied by a pal called Jacob.” Her statement comes after Mr Johnson confirmed he will take the “painful” decision to vote for Mrs May’s Brexit deal.

The former Foreign Secretary tweeted this morning: “It is very painful to vote for this deal. 

“But I hope we can now work together to remedy its defects, avoid the backstop trap and strive to deliver the Brexit people voted for.”

Mr Johnson, who has a been a long-standing critic of Mrs May’s deal, changed his support for the EU withdrawal agreement amid plans to bid for Prime Minister.

Sources close to the former Foreign Secretary confirmed he intends to run for Tory leadership, and said he is “primed and ready” to launch his campaign.

Mr Johnson has urged hardline MPs to back Mrs May’s deal, as the House of Commons carried out its third Brexit vote today.

His tweet continued: “Today is the day we promised the country we would leave the European Union. 

“I bitterly regret that we have failed to keep that promise. Instead we will today vote on the Withdrawal Agreement.

“I have been and remain intensely critical of the deal. But we have a choice to make now, and that means choosing between options that actually exist. 

“I have come to the sad conclusion that neither this government nor this parliament is willing to leave with no deal.

“We therefore run the risk of being forced to accept an even worse version of Brexit or losing Brexit altogether. 

“A bad deal that we have a chance to improve in the next stage of negotiations must be better than those alternatives.”

Mrs May is struggling to rally support over her botched Brexit deal, and faced an overwhelming defeat by 286 votes to 344, with a majority of 58.

Former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, who quit last November, joined Mr Johnson to support the Prime Minister’s deal.

He told Parliament this afternoon: “I still believe it to be a bad deal. But we potentially now face an even worse alternative that could reverse Brexit and betray our democracy.

“Anger is not a political strategy – we must assess the specific and tangible decision before us.”

Source: Read Full Article