Gambiaj.com – (LONDONG, United Kingdom) – Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has taken aim at French President Emmanuel Macron in his newly published memoirs, recounting the often fraught relationship between the two leaders during his time in office. In excerpts from Unleashed, released by the Daily Mail on Monday, Johnson describes Macron as both “personally charming” and “a real nuisance,” offering an insider’s perspective on the tensions that characterized post-Brexit negotiations and other key issues between France and the UK.
Johnson, who led the UK from 2019 to 2022, reflects on his tenure at 10 Downing Street, a period marked by significant political upheaval, including the finalization of Brexit and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He spares no words for Macron, whom he accuses of holding a grudge against the UK over its decision to leave the European Union.
“Although Macron was personally charming, and although we often agreed on important issues, he really meant it when he said the United Kingdom should be punished for Brexit,” Johnson writes. The former Conservative leader details numerous exchanges with European leaders, particularly Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, offering candid assessments of their stances during Brexit negotiations. Johnson even mocks Macron’s English accent in the memoir, revealing the deeper animosity between the two men.
One of the most controversial assertions in Johnson’s account relates to the ongoing migrant crisis. He suggests that Macron deliberately allowed a significant number of migrants to cross the English Channel, using the issue as leverage against Britain. “It seemed at least possible that he used the problem discreetly to drive the British people crazy and undermine one of the most important aspects of Brexit, which was to regain control of our borders,” Johnson claims. The matter of illegal crossings has long been a sensitive issue in UK politics, particularly with Brexit supporters who prioritize border control as a key benefit of leaving the EU.
Johnson also revisits Macron’s anger over the rapid development of the AstraZeneca vaccine during the early stages of the pandemic. The UK-based vaccine was one of the first to be rolled out, and according to Johnson, its success provoked irritation in Paris. He goes on to gloat over a diplomatic victory involving the AUKUS defense pact—a security alliance formed between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia—which effectively canceled a major submarine deal France had with Australia. Johnson describes this as “an uppercut for the French,” a move that soured relations further.
Since stepping down as prime minister in 2022, Johnson has shifted to a career in writing and public speaking, with his columns in the Daily Mail and lucrative speaking engagements earning him tens of thousands of euros. His memoirs, released on October 10, provide a candid and often critical look back at his political career, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes tensions between the UK and its European neighbors.
While the publication of Unleashed is expected to reignite discussions about Brexit and its aftermath, it also offers a glimpse into the personal grievances and diplomatic struggles that marked Johnson’s leadership, particularly with President Macron.
