UK won’t abandon leading role in Europe: Boris Johnson

BRUSSELS: New British foreign minister and top Brexit backer Boris Johnson on Monday pledged Britain would continue to play a “leading role” in Europe as he met his European Union peers in Brussels for the first time.

The normally ebullient Johnson was on his best behaviour after infuriating his partners in the run-up to last month’s referendum by comparing the EU’s ambitions for closer integration to Adolf Hitler’s.

“We have to give effect to the will of the people and leave the European Union but we are not going in any way to abandon our leading role in European participation,” Johnson told reporters.

He said he had a “very good conversation” with EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini late Sunday —although a dinner with her was called off after his plane had to make an emergency landing. “I am very much looking forward to meeting my colleagues,” he added.