Boris Johnson has issued an appeal to Cabinet ministers backing the campaign to stay in the European Union to “think again” and reconsider their positions.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Mr Johnson warned that David Cameron’s “emergency brake” on migrant benefits will do nothing to reduce the numbers of foreigners coming to the UK.
In his first detailed comments since announcing that he was backing a “Brexit”, the Mayor of London hailed the "extraordinary" response of eurosceptic MPs and said he will try to encourage ministers to change their mind and back the out campaign
Theresa May, the Home Secretary, and Sajid Javid, the Business Secretary, both backed a Brexit despite being life-long eurosceptics.
Asked whether Cabinet ministers should now reconsider their decision to support the “Remain” campaign, Mr Johnson said: “What have we got? About 150 MPs now? That’s extraordinary.
“I would [encourage ministers to think again]. People should look at the arguments. I have huge respect for what the Prime Minister is saying. But people I think should think about the arguments.”
However critics have warned that it will have little effect because it is tapered, meaning that migrants gradually gain more access to Britain's benefits system the longer they stay in the UK.
Asked whether Mr Cameron’s “emergency brake” on migrant benefits will “work and reduce the numbers”, Mr Johnson said: “It seems unlikely frankly.”
He added: “This is about control. People feel a sense of alienation and frustration because the politicians have no control.”
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