Video disproves Tory claims that Boris Johnson’s ‘oven-ready deal’ only referred to Withdrawal Agreement

MPs on the government’s benches have scrambled to dismiss questions about the prime minister’s claims of an agreement “ready to go” by claiming it only referred to the original piece of Brexit legislation passed in the House of Commons earlier in the year and not the actual trade agreement.

But video footage has re-emerged of Johnson talking about what his pledge actually involved – and it talks about aspects only a trade deal delivers.

Speaking at a Nissan factory in the North East of England alongside former Labour MP Gisela Stuart, he said: “It’s absolutely vital we protect supply chains, we protect Nissan motors, and we make sure people continue to invest in our country. And they will.

“What I think businesses large and small want to see is certainty about the arrangements we can deliver.

“And the thing about the deal we’ve got ready-to-go is it does protect the supply chains, it keeps them intact, it makes sure we have complete equivalence when it comes to our standards, our industrial requirements and all the rest of it.

“So as we come out, it’s all protected.”

MORE: Rishi Sunak said a year ago ‘oven-ready’ Brexit meant there’s ‘going to be a trade deal’

It was claimed on social media the video gave an impression that there would be a long-term trade deal with the EU.

One wrote: “When Cleverly was on calling British people stupid for thinking oven-ready deal was only about Withdrawal Agreement not a trade deal why didn’t they put this video up…?”

Referencing the workers he had spoken in front of, a third said: “Maybe they can get jobs in cyber…”

The Conservative manifesto had been clear that the deal “is the only one on the table” and “puts the whole country on a path to a new free trade agreement with the EU” – appearing to suggest a commitment an agreement with the EU would be delivered.