‘Do you know what’s in paragraph 5c?’: Boris Johnson’s car crash Brexit interview goes viral

Boris Johnson, the man most likely to become Britain’s next prime minister, has gone viral after he stumbled on a basic Brexit question.

Boris Johnson, the frontrunner to be Britain’s next prime minister, has gone viral after admitting he didn’t understand a basic sentence about his own Brexit strategy.

The Tory leadership frontrunner was questioned by the BBC’s Andrew Neil for further details on how the UK would trade with the European Union after Britain formally makes its exit.

Mr Johnson said Britain could use a rule known as “GATT 24” to maintain trade with the EU, saying he’d secure a “standstill” trade agreement using paragraph 5(B) of article 24 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

“It might be possible, as we come out, to agree under GATT 24 paragraph 5B that both sides agree to a standstill, a protraction of their existing zero tariff, zero quota arrangements until such a time as we do a free trade deal,” he said.

Boris Johnson has gone viral after he was grilled over Brexit.

But Mr Johnson failed to mention paragraph 5(C) — which comes straight afterwards — makes it clear the policy Mr Johnson is talking about can’t be used for a no-deal Brexit.

Neil asks: “And how would you handle paragraph 5(C)?”

“I would confide entirely in paragraph 5B which is enough for our purposes,” responds Mr Johnson.

“But how would you get around what’s in 5C?”

Mr Johnson repeats himself, saying, “I would confide entirely in 5B.”

Then Neil asks if Mr Johnson even knows what’s in 5C, to which Mr Johnson bluntly replies: “No.”

“I thought you were a man of detail!” says Neil.

Mr Johnson then tries to claim there’s “enough in 5B” for his strategy to work, to which Neil explains: “No, 5C says you don’t just need the EU’s approval, you need to agree with the EU the shape of a future trade agreement and a timetable to getting towards it.”

Instead of addressing how paragraph 5C affects his Brexit strategy, Mr Johnson then fires out at the journalist: “Why this defeatism? Why this negativity?”

The cringe-worthy footage went viral after it was posted from BBC Politics’ Twitter account, with many deeming Mr Johnson an “absolute joke” “who doesn’t have a clue”.

Ultimate proof, if you ever needed it, that @BorisJohnson hasn't got a clue how Brexit is going to work. He's not even read the bloody agreements. pic.twitter.com/Y4AOUU0QXl

— Our Future, Our Choice (@OFOCBrexit) July 12, 2019

An absolute joke! Does Boris have any idea how the EU works? If he becomes PM, and God help us, the European leaders will run rings round him. They will see through the bluster and arrogance. The trouble is that I do not think he cares. It is all about Boris and to hell with us.

— Doug Sanders (@sanders1_doug) July 12, 2019

Jesus wept.

No clue whatsoever.

— Alex ⭐️☔️💚 🇪🇺 (@YellowRoses80) July 12, 2019

Oh wow oh wow oh wow. So after insulting the EU, calling them every name under the sun, he now wants to forget about 5C (the law) and rely on the EU's "goodwill"? We are absolutely toast with this man as PM.

— Leena #SaveOurNHS 🔶🇪🇺 (@LeenaSaveOurNHS) July 12, 2019

Is this his response to everything he doesn’t know. ‘Why the negativity? ’ I might try that at work. See how far I get before I get sacked.

— neil (@PrawnHarts) July 12, 2019