'tinport' johnson comes under attack from france's leading newspaper

The Tory leadership frontrunner was subject of the personal jibe by Le Monde after launching his bid to win the keys to No.10. The French publication accused him of whipping up anti-European

Union sentiment in Britain when he was working as a journalist in Brussels. Mr Johnson becoming Britain’s next prime minister would be a “calamity for his country and for Europe”, Le Monde

writes. His hated profile in Europe emerges off of the back of a threat to withhold the £39billion Brexit bill from Brussels, unless they offer him better divorce terms. “His demagoguery

goes so far as to threaten not to pay the £39bn that the United Kingdom is committed to pay to the 27 in the current multi-annual budget,” the publication writes. “A decision with

incalculable consequences, since it would taint the international credibility of a country that claims to be the champion of the rule of law.” Le Monde also chides Mr Johnson’s pledge to

take Britain out of the EU on October 31 – with or without a deal. “The economic catastrophe resulting from a no deal does not scare him,” the publication writes. “His chauvinistic rhetoric

promises the British a bright and global future once they are relieved from their European shackles.” Mr Johnson launched his leadership campaign in London yesterday afternoon, insisting he

would stand in the way of any attempt by MPs to frustrate the result of the 2016 EU referendum. He said: “I think it will be very difficult for friends in Parliament to obstruct the will of

the people and simply block Brexit. “I think if we now block it, collectively as parliamentarians we will reap the whirlwind and we will face mortal retribution from the electorate.” Mr

Johnson ducked questions on suspending parliament to force through no-deal Brexit, but said he would not rule out “any tool” to guarantee Brexit by October 31. Chancellor Philip Hammond

attacked Mr Johnson’s plans, which he warned was like driving towards a “cliff-edge at speed”. Mr Hammond predicted that the EU would continue to block any renegotiation of Theresa May’s

Brexit deal, even with a new prime minister in place. He said: “I think it will be very difficult – in fact I think it will be impossible – to do this by October 31 and I don’t think it will

be in our national interest that we drive towards this cliff-edge at speed.”