Jack Maidment, political correspondent
18 SEPTEMBER 2017 • 11:53AM
Mr Johnson was rebuked by Sir David Norgrove, chairman of the UK Statistics Authority, for repeating a claim that the UK could be £350 million per week better off after Britain’s withdrawal from the EU.
Sir David and Mr Johnson traded barbs over the weekend but Mr Gove has now come to the aid of his Leave campaign ally and insisted people should actually read what the Foreign Secretary wrote when he set out his Brexit vision in Saturday’s Telegraph.
It came as sources close to Mr Gove said reports that he had cut Mr Johnson “adrift” over the blueprint were “wrong” and that the pair “have been, are, and will be working closely together to help the Prime Minister get the best deal possible”.
The publication of Mr Johnson’s Brexit plan sent a shockwave through Westminster while his claim that up to £350million could be spent on the NHS post-Brexit reignited a row over the accuracy of the figure which dominated the months after the EU referendum.
But Mr Gove appeared to back Mr Johnson’s plans as he said: “In the debate on EU contributions it's important people look at what Boris actually wrote in his Telegraph article - not headlines.
“Debate should be forward looking on how to make most of life outside EU - not refighting referendum.”
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson’s blueprint has also received the backing of another Leave campaign heavyweight.
Nigel Farage, the former Ukip leader, said: “Reading Boris Johnson’s vision for Brexit cheered me up. Someone in government is finally being positive about what we voted for.”
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Sir David said in a letter to Mr Johnson after the publication of the Foreign Secretary’s Brexit plan that he was "surprised and disappointed" that the £350 million claim had been revived.
Mr Johnson then hit back and accused Sir David of “wilfully distorting” his words.
Mr Johnson said in his 4,000 word article that “it would be a fine thing” if “a lot of” that £350 million “went on the NHS”.
The Foreign Secretary’s dramatic Brexit intervention sparked a Cabinet row as speculation mounted that Mr Johnson was preparing for a future leadership bid.
The timing of the blueprint was also seized upon by critics who suggested Mr Johnson was seeking to undermine Theresa May before she delivers a major speech on Brexit in Florence, Italy on Friday.
Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, accused him on Sunday of being a "backseat driver”.
But his article, and his decision to repeat the £350 million figure, was backed by his father, Stanley.
He told the BBC on Monday: “It was absolutely right for a man who has been in the forefront of the Brexit campaign... who, you know, helped push Britain into a vote Leave position, absolutely right that he should keep that claim bright and clear before people's eyes and ears.
“All the more important to write it now to make sure there is a vision out there which people have held, do hold.”
John Redwood inists Boris Johnson should not be sacked
01:28
Margaritis Schinas, the European Commission’s chief spokesman, said it was aware of the Brexit debate in the UK but would not be commenting before the Prime Minister’s speech "in the renaissance city of Florence."
"In the renaissance spirit, you will be illuminated later," he said.
When asked if Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, had read Mr Johnson’s blueprint, Mr Schinas said "every weekend he receives an exhaustive press review with important articles attached".
01:28
Margaritis Schinas, the European Commission’s chief spokesman, said it was aware of the Brexit debate in the UK but would not be commenting before the Prime Minister’s speech "in the renaissance city of Florence."
"In the renaissance spirit, you will be illuminated later," he said.
When asked if Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, had read Mr Johnson’s blueprint, Mr Schinas said "every weekend he receives an exhaustive press review with important articles attached".
