Boris Johnson, the former foreign secretary, set out an alternative plan to “get these talks moving” JEFF OVERS/REUTERSBoris Johnson has said that the UK should keep half of its £39 billion divorce bill until the EU agrees a free trade deal that avoids a hard border in Ireland. The former foreign secretary claimed that Brussels would be prepared to renegotiate if faced with credible preparations for a no-deal exit in what he said amounted to a “sensible plan”. His comments yesterday were seen as a clear signal of an impending leadership bid. Mr Johnson said that as a way to further “incentivise” the EU the government should hold back on at least half the cash it has already agreed that it owes in budget contributions. Setting out an alternative plan, he said: “We should say that we will delay the payment of…

Source: The Times December 10, 2018 00:06 UTC