Boris Johnson has claimed that he was threatened by David Cameron during the 2016 Brexit campaign. The former Prime Minister, according to Johnson, warned him that he would “f*** him up” if he supported the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU).
In a frank conversation on the Diary of a CEO with BBC Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett, the ex-Tory Party leader recalled a heated exchange he alleges occurred with Cameron, his erstwhile Conservative comrade. Johnson admits they disagreed over the EU referendum and concedes that emotions were running high then.
During the interview, Bartlett asked: “Did David Cameron react badly when he thought that you might be voting to leave? What did he say?” Johnson alleges that Cameron told him: “If you come out and support remain, you can have a top-five job in the cabinet.
“I couldn’t work out what a top-five job was.” Johnson went on to say: “I was finding it very hard. I’d written lots and lots of articles pointing out the democratic problems of the EU and finally we had a chance to resolve this.
“I was thinking of coming out for leave and I didn’t know how to put it to him, that was the truth. He said, ‘this isn’t about articles, this is about the future of the country’.
“I said, ‘well I agree about the future of the country’, but I was still thinking of coming out for leave. And he said, ‘well, if you come out, I will f*** you up forever, which I thought was quite a big promise to make.”
The differing views of Johnson and Cameron during the Brexit referendum signified a pivotal moment in modern UK politics.
During the summer of 2016, then-Prime Minister Cameron was dedicated to delivering a referendum that would see Britain maintain its EU membership. A staunch supporter of the remain campaign, Cameron firmly believed that the nation’s best interests were served by staying within the EU.
He contended that remaining in Europe would benefit economic stability and political influence most. He passionately campaigned to keep the UK in the EU, warning about the potential dangers of leaving.
On the other hand, Boris Johnson supported the leave movement. He promoted Brexit as an opportunity for Britain to reclaim power from the EU, claiming it would bring back sovereignty to the United Kingdom and enable it to function independently, without European rules.