Boris Johnson has put forward an idea for a 22-mile bridge across the Channel, in order to enhance transport links post-Brexit.
The foreign secretary suggested the idea to French president Emmanuel Macron on Thursday at the Anglo-French summit, who responded positively to the idea.
Johnson later took to Twitter, captioning a photo with Macron: “En marche! Great meetings with French counterparts today.”
“I’m especially pleased we are establishing a panel of experts to look at major projects together. Our economic success depends on good infrastructure and good connections. Should the Channel Tunnel be just a first step?” he also tweeted.
Downing Street has reported on the plans of a bridge by saying there are “no specific plans” for the infrastructure linking the UK and France.
“I haven’t seen any plans on that. We are going to have very close ties with France economically, culturally and in areas such as defence and security for many many decades to come,” said the Theresa May’s spokesperson.
“What was agreed yesterday (Thursday) and what the foreign secretary tweeted about as well is a panel of experts who will look at major projects together, including infrastructure. And we want to work very closely with our French colleagues on building a shared, prosperous future.”
A spokesperson for the French President denied rumours that Macron responded to Johnson’s ideas with “I agree, let’s do it”.
The foreign secretary’s ideas of a bridge have been taken very differently among government officials.
Sir Nick Clegg told BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour: “It’s all very well talking about a bridge that may or may not be built in decades to come. The thing that worries me much more is he wants to pull up the drawbridge to the economic relationship which has served us so well over such a long period of time.”
Conservative MP Mark Pritchard took to Twitter to say that Johnson’s idea was “a bridge too far”.