“We hear that we're first in line to do a great free trade deal with the United States.”

Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary, after a meeting with Donald Trump’s aides

9 January 2017

Facts

A free trade deal with the US has been one of the government’s Brexit selling points, repeated multiple times by Conservative ministers.

Britain has not been “first in line” for a free trade deal. On 20 September 2022, over 5 years on from Prime Minister Johnson’s statement, Prime Minister Liz Truss told the BBC: “There aren’t currently any negotiations taking place with the US and I don't have an expectation that those are going to start in the short to medium term.”

Verdict

Well before he became Prime Minister, Boris Johnson was making false claims about Brexit.

We emailed Boris Johnson's office offering him the chance to respond. The email was received, but no reply.

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