Boris Johnson: Brexit does not mean leaving Europe

Friday, July 15, 2016 - 09:00 (EEST) Section: Latest news

Boris Johnson has set out his vision for Britain to be a more ”global player” on his first day as Foreign Secretary, according to BT.
”On Europe clearly we have to give effect to the will of people in the referendum, but that does not mean in any sense, leaving Europe,” the newly-appointed Foreign Secretary said, speaking outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in central London, BT reported.
”There is a massive difference between leaving the EU and our relations with Europe, which if anything I think are going to be intensified and built up at an intergovernmental level,” said the former London mayor.
”I set out what I think that we need to be doing and what we need to be focusing on, and that is reshaping Britain`s global profile and identity as a great global player,” he said.
Johnson added he was ”very pleased” to receive a phone call from U.S. State Secretary John ”who totally agreed with that analysis and his view was that post-Brexit and after the negotiations, what he really wants to see, and I think this is the right thing for the UK, is more Britain abroad, a greater global profile and I think we now have the opportunity to achieve that.”
”So overall it has been a very exciting day,” he concluded commenting on his first day in office.