Brexit: Chris Green MP defends pal Boris Johnson to his voters

Speaking before a special Brexit Q & A at Horwich RMI on Thursday, Mr Green told The Bolton News that he had “every confidence” that the Prime Minister can strike a good deal for Britain.

He said it would be a “bad move” to see Mrs May ousted from Number 10, and there was “still time for her to change direction”.

Mr Green spoke of his u-turn over Brexit in the run-up to the 2016 referendum, freely admitting that he used to favour Britain staying within the EU.

He said: “Back in 2009, when talk of leaving the EU began to gain ground, I was definitely in favour of remaining.

“At that point, I believed it just needed reforming. But the more I became involved in politics, the more I realised that it was impossible to change the EU.

“Europe has become increasingly unresponsive and we are now on the brink of a United States of Europe.”

On Tuesday, Mr Green was seen arriving with Boris Johnson at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.

Mr Johnson made a speech calling Theresa May’s Chequers Brexit plan “a cheat” and “humiliating”.

Mr Green stopped short of endorsing a Boris bid for the party leadership, but said “it is impossible to say what’s going to happen in the future”.

He said: “Boris and I get along very well. We are both reflecting what the British people want in Brexit. I think Boris is under so many attacks in the media because people actually do take him seriously.

“The packed hall at the party conference, where 1,500 people came to see Mr Johnson speak, proves how serious the membership of the Conservative Party takes him.

“It also proves, in reality, how seriously the British media are beginning to take him. There is no vacancy at Number 10, but it’s impossible to say what’s going to happen in the future.”

Before taking to the stage for an hour-long Brexit debate, Mr Green said he stands fully behind his party leader.

“We have to support our Prime Minister Theresa May. To change during negotiations would be a mistake. Should the Prime Minister go? No. But we can still make our views heard.”

If Bolton had voted to remain in the EU, Mr Green said he would still have stuck to his “political principles” and continued to support Brexit.

He said: “I would have voted leave either way, because politicians ought to have principles.

“Of course, I have to reflect the interests of my constituents, but I have come to the conclusion that the best thing for Bolton West and for Britain, is to leave the EU.”

Mr Green resigned as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling in July in protest over Mrs May’s Brexit policy.

When asked whether his resignation had the impact he intended, Mr Green said he “did not regret the decision”.

He said: “”It wasn’t that I expected any impact from it, it’s simply what I believed to be right. I had to act in accordance with what I believed to be right. Both right for Bolton and right for the country.

“I can now speak more freely, not being part of the Government side of the party in Parliament.”

Taking to the stage, Mr Green spoke fiercely about Britain’s “unequal” relationship within the EU.

Answering a question on the Britain’s £39bn ‘divorce bill’, Mr Green earned rousing applause with his forthright answer.

He said: “I don’t think we owe a single penny to the EU. We have always given more than our fair share to the EU.”

Closing the Q & A event, Mr Green outlined his vision for a “stronger” Britain post-Brexit.

He said: “Five years from now, I think Britain leaving the EU will be seen as an incredibly positive act.

“I’d like to see us having closer trading relationships with countries around the world.

“Instead of the momentary jitters we now have about leaving the EU, I think our relationship with the EU will actually be stronger afterwards than it was before.

“We’ve always had an uncomfortable relationship in the EU.

“But this is a great opportunity for us and the EU to find the right relationship.”

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