Boris Johnson: UK green standards could 'diverge' from EU after Brexit

The UK’s environmental standards could diverge from those of the EU after the country leaves the bloc, prime minister Boris Johnson has admitted.

The ability to implement divergent regulations was “the point” of exiting the EU, Johnson told European Council president Donald Tusk in a letter on Monday, adding that to do so was “central” to democracy.

The Conservative government, under previous prime minister Theresa May, who Johnson replaced in July, has said it would not weaken environmental standards after leaving the EU.