Boris Johnson was one of two senior Tories who refused to rule out a leadership run this morning Jeff Overs/BBCBoris Johnson has said that Britain should withhold half of its £39 billion Brexit divorce payment until the EU agrees a trade deal that avoids a hard Irish border. The former foreign secretary laid out his alternative to Theresa May’s strategy and refused to deny that he would run in a leadership election should the prime minister resign or lose a confidence vote. This morning Esther McVey, the former welfare secretary, became the first Tory to openly declare her intention to run for the leadership. Mr Johnson’s later television appearance will be interpreted as the effective launch of his latest campaign for No 10. Asked if he would promise not to stand against the prime minister, Mr Johnson told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show: “I…

Source: The Times December 09, 2018 12:05 UTC