UK PM contender Hunt thinks Johnson's Oct 31 Brexit deadline is 'fake'

Following Boris Johnson's claim that UK will leave the European Union (EU) by October 31, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, contesting against Johnson to replace Theresa May as prime minister next month, said on Tuesday that it was a fake deadline.

In an interview with BBC, Hunt said that he thinks the cut-off date of October 31 'come hell or high water' was a fake deadline. He said this would more likely trip them into a general election before they have delivered Brexit. He added that this would hand the keys to Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn and then they would have no Brexit at all.

Boris, in an interview, had said that they are getting ready to come out of EU on October 31. "Do or die. Come what may," he further said. Johnson had also written a letter to his rival and asked him to commit to taking the UK out of the EU on October 31.

Speaking about his stance on Brexit, the secretary said, "If there is not and if no-deal is still on the table, I’ve been very clear: I will leave the European Union without a deal." However, he added that he was not going to do that if there is a prospect of a better deal. "If I did it, it would be with a heavy heart, because businesses up and down the country would face a lot of destruction," he said.

UK Conservative Party members will vote for either Hunt or Johnson to replace May. The winner will be announced July 23.